“I do.”
“Welcome, brother, what is thy name?” said Harrimai.
Rizpah, his daughter, quickly made reply, “Ahasuerus, and I’ve laughed at the coincidence until he has been ashamed to repeat it.”
“’Tis strange, surely, and not like a Jewish one. I must examine the family rolls to-morrow. Peace be unto thee, son,” and the old man turned toward his pavilion. Esther plucked a lily from her crown and handed it to Sir Charleroy saying: “Here, king, a token.”
“Of what?”
“Shushan; in our tongue, the name of the flower signifies ‘surrender.’”
“They say, Esther, that Judith wore a crown of lilies when she assassinated Holophernes. Is there any danger to me impending?”
“Thou hast a lily. It is said to ward off enchantments, too.”
“I am enchanted. I do not want to awaken. In Egypt they call this the lotus, flower of unrestrained pleasure.”
“For now then, we’ll call it lotus.”