CHAPTER XXXIII
A COUPLE of days later Ramses sent his favorite with a summons to Kama.
She appeared soon in a tightly closed litter.
Ramses received her in a separate chamber.
"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?"