ine here.' Still the two sat down at the feast, during
which Tbubui wore a long, heavy robe fastened at her neck closely. When
the prince, excited by wine, wished to kiss her, she repelled him, and
answered,

"'This house will be thine. But remember that I am no street woman, but
an innocent maiden. If Thou wish from me obedience, swear faith, and
convey to me thy property.'

"'Let the scribe come!' cried the prince. When they brought in the
scribe, Satni commanded him to write an act of betrothal, also a deed
by which he transferred to Tbubui all his money, and all his property,
personal and real.

"An hour later the servants announced to the prince that his children
were waiting in the lower story. Tbubui left him then, but returned
soon, attired in a transparent gauze robe. Satni wished again to
embrace her, but she repelled him a second time, saying: 'This house
will be thine. But, since I am no common woman, but an innocent maiden,
if Thou wish to possess me, let thy children renounce every claim, lest
they raise lawsuits hereafter with my children.'

"Satni called up his children, and commanded them to sign an act
renouncing all claim to his possessions. They did so. But when, roused
by long resistance, he approached Tbubui, she repelled him, saying,

"'This house will be thine. But I am no chance passing woman, I am a
pure maiden. If Thou love me, give consent to kill those children lest
they take property from my children.'"

"This is rather a long story," said Kama, impatiently.

"It will end right away. And dost Thou know, Kama, what Satni replied
to this: 'If Thou wish, let the crime be accomplished.' Tbubui gave no
chance to have these words said a second time. Before their father's
eyes she commanded to kill the children, and throw their bloody limbs
to dogs and cats outside the windows. Only after that did Satni enter
her chamber and repose on her bed, inlaid with ivory."

"Tbubui did well not to trust to men's promises," said the irritated
Kama.

"But Satni," said the heir, "did better. He woke, for his dreadful
crime was a dream only. And remember this, Kama, the surest way to
rouse a man from love's intoxication is to curse his son."

"Be at rest, lord," said Kama, gloomily, "I will never mention
hereafter thy son or my sorrow."

"And I will not withdraw my favor from thee, and Thou wilt be happy,"
said Ramses, in conclusion.

CHAPTER XL

Among the inhabitants of Pi-Bast alarming ne