Soon the girl got up; and, as if to breathe more freely, moved about the deck. She leaned over the bulwarks, and looked across the sea; but all the time she slyly watched the Prince's movements.
"Oh! you will come to me," said she, "I am very sure of that. Let us see how you will begin the conversation."
The Prince did indeed approach her, though slowly, and with some hesitation. Tika looked away.
"The air is fresher here, is it not, young woman?" said the Prince at last, pausing in front of her.
"Well, that is commonplace enough," thought Tika, who replied by bowing her head.
"Why doesn't your mistress take a little walk? Why not let this light breeze cool her heated brow?"
"The wind which blows from the land of exile is more burning than flames of fire," said Tika, in a solemn tone.
"Is it so dreadful, then, to dwell in one castle rather than in another?" said the Prince. "Fatkoura shall be treated like a queen. I swear that I desire her captivity to be more sweet than liberty is to most people. Tell me what does she like?"
"Did she not tell you that she cared for nothing now? Once she was fond of dress, and music, and festivity; more than all else she loved to hear the footsteps of her lover on the outer gallery."
"She was very fond of this Nagato, then?"