But the chamberlain, seeing that he had almost revealed his master’s real identity, shook his head and continued to wring his hands, protesting: “I meant only that the King’s eyes were upon all and over all! But I cannot disobey him, and—I will not!”
He abruptly turned and left the room. Athura went to one of the narrow windows and looked tearfully out upon the yellow landscape of hill and mountain, on which the setting sun was casting its last mellow beams. Her eyes ran over the courtyard, the steep descent of hill, the high wall below with its brazen gate and its sentries, posted at intervals on the top. A great loneliness seized upon her, a cold dread of impending evil gripped her heart, and a terror of unknown forces that seemed to surround her. Turning from the window, she met the eyes of one of the maids compassionately watching her. The expression of her face caught Athura’s attention. Repressing her tears lest the servants should deem her weak, she addressed the maid:
“What is your name?”
“Lauretha, gracious mistress,” was the answer.
“Who are you and whence come you?”
“I am a daughter of the captain of the guard, and I came from Nicæa hither.”
“Tell me, whose is this castle and how came my brother here? He has been acting most unbrotherly to me. Have you a brother whom you love most dearly? And would he call you to a place like this and then not meet you, or run away to the city without visiting you?”
The girl’s eyes filled with tears. The beauty and engaging personality of Athura had already made a deep impression upon her. She had heard in the old days of this beautiful daughter of Cyrus as a very goddess of wisdom and beauty. Now that she beheld her, she was her devotee. She drew nearer and, kneeling, caught hold of the hem of Athura’s dress and kissed it.
“Gracious Queen of the World, I am but a humble girl,” she said, sobbing: “My parentage is not even noble. But I place my soul and body at your service! Let me make confession to you and I will trust in your forgiveness for my enforced service here. If you will follow me to the chamber above, where you are to sleep and where we may be alone, I will tell you the secret of your situation.”
“Arise and be assured of my good-will. I will follow you,” answered the Princess, touched by the girl’s devotion and wondering what she meant.