In a combat with swords you slew a Roman." The flush deepened--not so much for the triumphs themselves as the flattery there was in the thought that she had followed his career with interest.

A moment, and the pleasure was succeeded by a reflection.

The combat, he knew, was matter of report throughout the East; but the name of the victor had been committed to a very few--Malluch, Ilderim, and Simonides.

Could they have made a confidante of the woman?
So with wonder and gratification he was confused; and seeing it, she arose and said, holding the cup over the pool, "O gods of Egypt! I give thanks for a hero discovered--thanks that the victim in the Palace of Idernee was not my king of men.

And so, O holy gods, I pour and drink." Part of the contents of the cup she returned to the stream, the rest she drank.