he fan-bearer, then he turned
without a word and strode out of the chamber. In a corridor near his
own apartments he overtook the daughter of Har-hat. Her woman was with
her.

The prince stepped before them.

The attendant crouched and fled somewhere out of sight. Masanath drew
herself to the fullest of her few inches and waited for Rameses to
speak.

"Come, Masanath," he said, "thou canst reach the limit of thy power to
be ungracious and but fix me the firmer in my love for thee. I am come
to tell thee that I have won thee from thy father."

"Thou hast not won me from myself," she replied.

"Nay, but I shall."

"Thou dost overestimate thyself," she retorted. Catching up the fan
and chaplet that her woman had let fall she made as though to run past
him. But he put himself in her way, and with shining eyes, caught her
in his arms.

"There, there! my sweet. I shall do thee no hurt," he laughed,
quieting her struggles with an iron embrace.

"Thou art hurting me beyond any cure now," she panted wrathfully.

"It is thy fault. Have I not said I am sated with submission? If thou
wouldst unlock mine arms, kiss me and tell me thou wilt be my queen."

"Let me go," she exclaimed, choking with emotion.

"Better for thee to tell me 'yes'; thou wilt save thy father a lie."

She looked at him speechless.

"I have said. To-morrow he will tell me that thou hast promised to wed
me--whether thou sayest it or not. Spare him the falsehood, Masanath,
and me a heartache."

"Wilt thou slander my father to me?" she demanded. "Art thou a knave
as well as a tyrant?"

"Nay, I have spoken truly. Sad indeed were thy fate, my Masanath, did
the gods mate thee with a knave, having fathered thee with a villain.
So I am come to know of a truth what is thy will."

"And I can tell thee most truly. Sooner would I sit upon the peak of a
pyramid all my life than upon a throne with thee; sooner would I be
crowned with fire than wear the asp of a queen to thee. My father may
wed me to thee, but I will never love thee, nor say it, nor pretend it.
Thou wilt not win a wife if thou dost take a queen by violence.
Release me!"

"Thou dost rivet mine arms about thee."

She stiffened herself and savagely submitted to her imprisonment.

Rameses laughed and, bending her head back, kissed her repeatedly and
with much tenderness. She struggled madly, but he held her fast.

"This is but the beginning," he said in a low voice, "and I