"Remeses will in a few days be with you, and—" I began; but she interrupted me with accents of terror,
"No—no! It is of him! He must never know my secret! It would kill him—he would fall to the earth a dead man, as if the lightnings of heaven had smitten him! No, not Remeses! With him silence—eternal silence!"
"If it will relieve your majesty to confide in me, I will receive with gratitude your revelation, and extend you all the sympathy in my power," I said, with emotion.
"Noble, excellent, virtuous prince!" she exclaimed, lifting my hand to her lips. "My determination is fixed! You shall know my secret! It will be safe in your honorable breast. But will you, O prince, consent to receive a revelation affecting Remeses, your friend, which you are forbidden to make known to him?"
"For your sake, O queen, I will receive it, and conceal it from Remeses, and all men," I answered. "I would not wish to make known to him what would affect him, as you say."
"Come with me, then, O prince, into my private cabinet," she said, with a voice deep and full, as if she were greatly moved.
I was about to follow her, as she went with a quick resolved step, when her page without the door gave the usual sign, by tinkling a silver sistrum, which forms the handles of their ivory sticks, that he wished to enter. The queen said, almost sternly—
I approached the double door, and, opening one of the inlaid valves, saw behind the page the tall figure of the Theban.
"This lord waits for an answer," said the page.