'I only
hope she won't put a knife into me. I believe that she is quite
capable of it.' And off he started very faintheartedly,
and no wonder.
I sat and waited, and at the end of about forty-five minutes
he returned, looking a good deal worse than when he went.
'Give me something to drink,' he said hoarsely.
I got him a cup of wine, and asked what was the matter.
'What is the matter? Why if ever there was trouble there's trouble
now. You know when I left you? Well, I was shown straight into
Sorais' private chamber, and a wonderful place it is; and there
she sat, quite alone, upon a silken couch at the end of the room,
playing gently upon that zither of hers. I stood before her,
and for a while she took no notice of me, but kept on playing
and singing a little, and very sweet music it was. At last she
looked up and smiled.
'"So thou art come," she said. "I thought perchance thou hadst
gone about the Queen Nyleptha's business. Thou art ever on her
business, and I doubt not a good servant and a true."
'To this I merely bowed, and said I was there to receive the
Queen's word.
'"Ah yes, I would talk with thee, but be thou seated. It wearies
me to look so high," and she made room for me beside her on the
couch, placing herself with her back against the end, so as to
have a view of my face.
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