On being disturbed in his watching and listening, he turned at once to the girl and greeted her in a high treble voice.
She started, and on recognizing the eunuch Boges, answered: "It is not polite, sir, to frighten a poor girl in this way.

By Mithras, if I had seen you before I heard you, I think I should have fainted.

A woman's voice does not take me by surprise, but to see a man here is as rare as to find a swan in the desert." Boges laughed good-humoredly, though he well understood her saucy allusion to his high voice, and answered, rubbing his fat hands: "Yes, it is very hard for a young and pretty bird like you, to have to live in such a lonely corner, but be patient, sweetheart.

Your mistress will soon be queen, and then she will look out a handsome young husband for you.
Ah, ha! you will find it pleasanter to live here alone with him, than with your beautiful Egyptian." "My mistress is too beautiful for some people's fancy, and I have never asked any one to look out a husband for me," she answered pertly.

"I can find one without your help either." "Who could doubt it?
Such a pretty face is as good a bait for a man, as a worm for a fish." "But I am not trying to catch a husband, and least of all one like you." "That I can easily believe," he answered laughing.