With his arms outstretched towards her, Balthasar cried:
“Give me but the little feather that has fallen on your neck and in return you shall have half my kingdom as well as the wise Sembobitis and Menkera the eunuch.”
But she rose and fled with a ripple of dear laughter.
When the mage and the eunuch returned they found their master plunged deep in thought which was not his custom.
“My lord!” asked Sembobitis, “have you concluded a good commercial treaty?”
That day Balthasar supped with the Queen of Sheba and drank the wine of the palm-tree.
“It is true, then,” said Balkis as they supped together, “that Queen Guidace is not so beautiful as I?”
“Queen Candace is black,” replied Balthasar.
Balkis looked expressively at Balthasar.
“One may be black and yet not ill-looking,” she said.