Moreover, girl," she added with meaning, "empresses are not always jealous; sometimes even they can look the other way.

There would be high place for you within our Court, and, who knows?
Your turn might come at length.

Also your father's plans would be forwarded to the last pound of gold in our treasury and the last soldier in our service.

Within five years, mayhap, he might rule Egypt as our Governor.

What say you ?" Heliodore looked at the Empress with that strange, slow smile of hers.
Then she looked at me, and answered: "I say what Olaf says.