amber.

"I was," said he, "outside thy house one evening."

"Oh, Astaroth!" cried the priestess. "To what must I attribute this
high favor? And what hindered thee, worthy lord, from deigning to
summon thy slave?"

"Some beasts were there, Assyrians, I suppose."

"Then Thou didst take the trouble, worthiness, in the evening? Never
could I have dared to suppose that our ruler was under the open sky, a
few steps from me."

The prince blushed. How she would be astounded could she know that he
had passed ten evenings near her windows!

But perhaps she knew it, judging by her half-smiling lips and her eyes
cast down deceitfully.

"So, then, Kama," said the prince, "Thou receivest Assyrians at thy
villa?"

"That man is a great magnate, Sargon, a relative of King Assar,"
answered Kama; "he has brought five talents to our goddess."

"And them wilt repay him, Kama?" jeered the heir. "And since he is such
a bountiful magnate, the Phoenician gods will not send thee death in
punishment."

"What dost Thou say, lord?" exclaimed Kama, clasping her hands. "Dost
Thou not know that if an Asiatic found me in the desert he would not
lay hands on me, even were I myself to yield to him? They fear the
gods."

"Why, then, does he come to thee, this malodorous no this pious
Asiatic?"

"Because he wants to persuade me to go to the temple of Astaroth in
Babylon."

"And wilt Thou go?"

"I will go if Thou command me, lord," said Kama, concealing her face
with her veil.

The prince took her hands in silence. His lips quivered.

"Do not touch me, lord," whispered she, with emotion. "Thou art my
sovereign, my support, the support of all Phoenicians in this country
but have compassion."

The viceroy let her go, and walked up and down through the chamber.

"The day is hot, is it not?" asked he. "There are countries where in
the month of Mechir white down falls from the sky, it is said; this
down in the fire turns to water, and makes the air cold. Oh, Kama, beg
thy gods to send me a little of that down, though what do I say? If
they should cover Egypt with it, all that down might be turned into
water and not cool the heart in me."

"For Thou art like the divine Amon; Thou art the sun concealed in human
form," replied Kama. "Darkness flees from that place whither Thou
turnest thy countenance, and under the gleam of thy glances flowers
blossom."

The prince turned again to her.

"But be compassionate," whispered she. "Moreover