"Say to thy mistress that I desire her presence," he said to a servant, and then passed on to a splendid chamber.
With his arms clasped across his breast he paced restlessly up and down the vast length of the chamber.
"Ah," he murmured, "Naaman, whom all Syria doth call a mighty man of valor, knoweth fear for the first time. My hand doth tremble like a woman's, my limbs are weak. Never have her sweet eyes looked into mine save with tenderness, but now—alas! alas! that Naaman should be so accursed."
The heavy silken draperies of the doorway were put aside and a woman entered the chamber. She was very beautiful with skin of dazzling fairness and hair of wondrous gold color. She was clad in rich garments of white, embroidered with gold.
"Naaman, my husband," she murmured, tenderly.
At the sound of her sweet voice Naaman started, turned, moved towards her and then abruptly paused.
"Thou didst desire my presence, my lord," she continued, falteringly, for his face was white and stern, and she remembered how of late he had appeared so cold and changed. As he did not speak, she added, "I fear that some trouble doth sore oppress thee. For some time I have noted the pallor on thy cheek, the shadow on thy brow. I longed to know thy trouble that I might comfort thee, but thou art ever silent. Wilt thou not confide in me, Naaman? Surely thou knoweth that thy Claudia desireth not alone to share thy riches and thy honors, but thy sorrows also," and, moving to his side, she laid her beautiful white hand upon his arm.