The Regent is a bad debtor; but the king Ani, they reckon, will be a grateful payer." Katuti looked at the dwarf in astonishment.

"You know men!" she said.
"To my sorrow!" replied Nemu.

"Do not apply to the Regent, and before thou dost sacrifice the labor of years, and thy future greatness, and that of those near to thee, sacrifice thy son's honor." "And my husband's, and my own ?" exclaimed Katuti.

"How can you know what that is! Honor is a word that the slave may utter, but whose meaning he can never comprehend; you rub the weals that are raised on you by blows; to me every finger pointed at me in scorn makes a wound like an ashwood lance with a poisoned tip of brass.

Oh ye holy Gods! who can help us ?" The miserable woman pressed her hands over her eyes, as if to shut out the sight of her own disgrace.