Yaouma. Yes, yes, yes—I understand. You want no one to know that you have found the book of Thoth—fear not, I know how to hold my peace. [Coaxingly she puts her arms round Satni's neck and rubs her cheek against his] Tell me, how did you find it?
Satni. I have not found the book of magic spells; besides, it would have profited me nothing.
Yaouma. Sit—you would not sit? They say 'tis shut up in three caskets, hidden at the bottom of the sea.
Satni. I tell you again I neither sought, nor found it.
Yaouma. What do you do then, to strike fire from heaven?
Satni. I did not strike fire from heaven.
Yaouma [crossly] Oh! I do not love you now!—Yes, yes, yes, I love you! [A pause] So it pleased you then, when you were going away in the galley, to see me run barefoot on the bank—?
Satni. Yes.
Yaouma [angry] But speak! speak! [Checking herself, then more coaxing still] You wanted to weep? No? You said you did. For my part I know not, then, I could see nothing. But the day of your return, when you learned I was chosen for the sacrifice, then, then I saw your eyes—You love me—You said to me you would prevent me going to the Nile. I believed you not—you remember—Why! even yesterday, yes, yesterday again, in spite of all your words, I was resolved to escape and go to the temple. It needed this proof of your power!—tell me, it was you who shook the heavens and the earth for me.
Satni. No.