Perhaps," she added, adjusting the folds of her mantle, "we shall find Zoroaster there, or some of the princes, or even the Great King himself.

Or, perhaps, it would amuse you to see where I live ?" Nehushta received her mantle from her slaves, and one of them brought her a linen tiara in place of the gauze veil she had twisted about her hair.

But Atossa would not permit the change.
"It is too beautiful!" she cried enthusiastically.

"So new! you must really not change it." She put her arm around Nehushta affectionately and led her towards the door of the inner staircase.

Then suddenly she paused, as though recollecting herself.
"No," she said, "I will show you the way I came.