“Thou hast slept uneasily,” I answered, “and a hideous mark upon thy breast became revealed.”
Languidly she raised her head upon her arm, and with eyes still half-closed, like Ninep, her dozing lioness, she said,—
“Come hither, Zafar. Come to my side.”
Obediently I approached her couch. Her breast rose, causing her diamonds to sparkle. During the past few days I had not failed to notice in her manner an entire change. She accorded me more liberty; she no longer placed her spiteful heel upon my neck as sign of triumph, and seldom she spoke to me with wilful gesture. Once, the amazing thought had flashed across my mind that she actually loved me, but at such absurd notion I had laughed and placed it aside.
“What seest thou in the Mark of the Asps to amaze thee?” she asked, when I had drawn nigh to her, and Ninep sniffed my legs inquisitively.
“It is as a strange mark,” I answered. “I was wondering what its meaning might be.”
“Ah!” she sighed. “Its meaning none can tell, save that those who bear it are the doomed.”
“The doomed!” I gasped. “Why?”
“Upon his accursed Anu setteth his mark. Hence it is that I bear it,” she answered, gravely. “Thou art mine enemy, Zafar,” she added, after a slight, painful pause. “To-night have I sent away my women, so that I may speak with thee, the stranger whose coming hath been prophesied for ages. By all men in Ea I am supposed to hate thee, yet—yet—”
Again she paused, looking at me intently with eyes in which burned the unmistakable light of love.