There was a white flower in her black hair, and I tried to keep my eyes on it and count the petals, but it was of no use.

At last, whether it was her gaze, or the perfume in her hair, or what I do not know, but I almost felt as though I was being mesmerized.

At last she roused herself.
'"Incubu," she said, "lovest thou power ?" 'I replied that I supposed all men loved power of one sort or another.
'"Thou shalt have it," she said.

"Lovest thou wealth ?" 'I said I liked wealth for what it brought.
'"Thou shalt have it," she said.

"And lovest thou beauty ?" 'To this I replied that I was very fond of statuary and architecture, or something silly of that sort, at which she frowned, and there was a pause.