She flung up her head, her face the picture of dismay.
"Nay, nay! not Hotep! Of all thy world, not Hotep!" she exclaimed.
He lifted his brows in amazement.
"Surely thou dost not question his fidelity—his power?"
"Nay! but dost thou not guess what he will do? Thou child! Abet thee! Nay! he would set his foot upon thy plan and foil thee at once with his politic hand."
"Hotep will obey as I command; that thou knowest," he said with dignity.
"Thou wilt not reach the point of command with him," she vehemently insisted. "He would catch thine intent ere thou hadst stated it and would make thee aghast at thyself in a twinkling by his smooth reasoning and vivid auguries. Nay, if thou art to have thy way in this, I wash my hands of it. We are as good as undone."
She turned away from him, but he followed her contritely.
"I submit," he said helplessly. "Advise me, but I—nay, ask me not to endanger thee, Ta-user."
She shook her head and moved on. He advanced a step or two after her, stopped, and wheeling about, resumed his place at the parapet.