That beautiful, passionate creature is incapable of any underhand dealings." "Passionate!" Neforis smiled.

"Her heart is as cold and as hard as the lost emerald; we have proved that by experience." "Nevertheless," said Orion, "she is incapable of baseness." "How zealous men can be for a pair of fine eyes!" interrupted his mother.

"But I have not the most remote suspicion of her; I have something quite different in my mind.

A pair of man's shoes were found lying by the wounded girl.

Did you do what my lord Orion ordered, Sebek ?" "At once, Mistress," replied the steward, "and I have been expecting the captain of the watch for some time; for Psamtik...." But here he was interrupted: the officer in question, who for more than twenty years had commanded the Mukaukas' guard of honor, was shown into the room; after answering a few preliminary enquiries he began his report in a voice so loud that it hurt the governor, and his wife was obliged to request the soldier to speak more gently.
The bloodhounds and terriers had been let out after being allowed to smell at the shoes, and a couple of them had soon found their way to the side-door where Hiram had waited for Paula.