The door moved easily on its hinges, and when Boges had shut it again and strewed a few of the river-shells from the garden walks over it, it would have been difficult to find, even for any one who had come with that purpose.

The eunuch rubbed his jeweled hands, smiling the while as was his custom, and murmured: "It can't fail to succeed now; the girl is caught, her lover is at my beck and call, the old secret flight of steps is in good order, Nitetis has been weeping bitterly on a day of universal rejoicing, and the blue lily opens to-morrow night.

Ah, ha! my little plan can't possibly fail now.

And to-morrow, my pretty Egyptian kitten, your little velvet paw will be fast in a trap set by the poor despised eunuch, who was not allowed, forsooth, to give you any orders." His eyes gleamed maliciously as he said these words and hurried from the garden.
At the great flight of steps he met another eunuch, named Neriglissar, who held the office of head-gardener, and lived at the hanging-gardens.
"How is the blue lily going on ?" asked Boges.
"It is unfolding magnificently!" cried the gardener, in enthusiasm at the mere mention of his cherished flower.

"To-morrow, as I promised, when the Tistar-star rises, it will be in all its beauty.