“Was that at the foot of the throne of Ra?” she asked with a touch of satire.
“In the land where first Ra whispered to his beloved to go forth and rule over the land of Kamt,” I said, “and where the gods bade me follow him.”
“And is he worthy of thy devotion, thinkest thou?”
“Nay, Princess, in that same land we do not pause to think if men and women be worthy before we give them our love. The son of Ra is dearer to me than ever brother was to brother, or son to father. Therefore I crave of thee again to allow thy slaves to guide me to where he now is, for I feel that he has need of me.”
“My slaves and my house are at thy command, oh, wise counsellor! Order what thou wilt. Fan-tu, who has charge of my slaves, will obey thy every word.”
I thanked her, then as she was silent I turned to go, but she stopped me.
“Stay!” she said; “hast reflected that the holy Pharaoh can ill spare thee? He is very sick, and thou leavest him without regret.”
“The holy Pharaoh is in no immediate bodily danger; and even if he were, Princess, my duty is to my friend.”
“How strange,” she said. “I have never heard of love and duty spoken of as between man and man. Is that love a product of that land where dwelleth Osiris, and whence thou and His emissary do come?”
“It is held as sacred there as the love given by man to woman.”