She stretched herself out full length on the lion skin. Her bare right knee slipped out from under her tunic.
"It is time to go find him," she said languidly. "You will soon receive my orders. Tanit-Zerga, show him the way. First take him to his room. He cannot have seen it."
I rose and lifted her hand to my lips. She struck me with it so sharply as to make my lips bleed, as if to brand me as her possession.
I was in the dark corridor again. The young girl in the red silk tunic walked ahead of me.
"Here is your room," she said. "If you wish, I will take you to the dining-room. The others are about to meet there for dinner."
She spoke an adorable lisping French.
"No, Tanit-Zerga, I would rather stay here this evening. I am not hungry. I am tired."
"You remember my name?" she said.
She seemed proud of it. I felt that in her I had an ally in case of need.