n I what had chanced at
the Court while I was pinned in the boat, whereon all present cried out
to Bes to take up the tale. This he did, and much better than I could
have done, bringing out many little things which made the scene appear
before them, as Ethiopians have the art of doing. At last he came to the
place in his story where the king asked him if he had ever seen a woman
fairer than the dancers, and went on thus:

"O Prince, I told the Great King that I had; that there dwelt in Egypt
a lady of royal blood with eyes like stars, with hair like silk and long
as an unbridled horse's tail, with a shape like to that of a goddess,
with breath like flowers, with skin like milk, with a voice like honey,
with learning like to that of the god Thoth, with wit like a razor's
edge, with teeth like pearls, with majesty of bearing like to that of
the king himself, with fingers like rosebuds set in pink seashells, with
motion like that of an antelope, with grace like that of a swan floating
upon water, and--I don't remember the rest, O Prince."

"Perhaps it is as well," exclaimed Peroa. "But what did the King say
then?"

"He asked her name, O Prince."

"And what name did you give to this wondrous lady who surpasses all the
goddesses in loveliness and charm, O dwarf Bes?" inquired Amada much
amused.

"What name, O High-born One? Is it needful to ask? Why, what name could
I give but your own, for is there any other in the world of whom a man
whose heart is filled with truth could speak such things?"

Now hearing this I gasped, but before I could speak Amada leapt up,
crying,

"Wretch! You dared to speak my name to this king! Surely you should be
scourged till your bones are bare."

"And why not, Lady? Would you have had me sit still and hear those
fat trollops of the East exalted above you? Would you have had me so
disloyal to your royal loveliness?"

"You should be scourged," repeated Amada stamping her foot. "My Uncle, I
pray you cause this knave to be scourged."

"Nay, nay," said Peroa moodily. "Poor simple man, he knew no better and
thought only to sing your praises in a far land. Be not angry with the
dwarf, Niece. Had it been Shabaka who gave your name, the thing would be
different. What happened next, Bes?"

"Only this, Prince," said Bes, looking upwards and rolling his eyes, as
was his fashion when unloading some great lie from his heart. "The
King sent his servants to bring my master from the boat, that he m