“It’s Tamyris, my lord,” said Caleb. “She is going to consult Amphris. She has paid a talent! Has Amphris interpreted your dream? The door-keeper, who also is wise, has interpreted mine for me! And for only five drachmæ.”
“One pirate! One pirate!” murmured Lucius.
And he clenched his fists, impotently....
The multitude streamed away along the terraces. The barges glided back on the canal, in the night.
And constantly, near the pleasure-houses and taverns, the vessels stopped and the dreamers alighted.
Here mead flowed and foaming golden beer and heavy Mareotis wines and the intoxicating liqueurs of Napata. Here the naked women, who beckoned with lotus-stalks, twisted in the dance.
“Back!” cried Lucius. “Back to Alexandria!”
The barge stopped at no pleasure-houses, at no taverns. The master sobbed, his head wrapped in his golden dreaming-veil. There was no music. Only the plaintive song of the rowers made itself heard from below.
Behind, in the east, the dawn paled in one long, rosy line, above the sea ... while the festal lamps flickered out and died....