I have promised all, and given nothing.

I have not even yielded my hand to his lips, for I told him in answer to all the entreaties of his love--and of a truth I tell thee that he loves me very dearly, for that great, strong frame of his shook like a bulrush in the wind under the breath of my lightest words--that, until the last vows had made us man and wife, I would be his queen and he should be my subject and my slave, even as he was of the great Rameses; and with this he was fain to be content, thinking, no doubt, how soon he would be my lord and master, and I his--his queen and plaything, bound by the law that may not be broken, to submit to every varying whim and humour of his passion." "Thy master, Nitocris! Thine! Such shame could never be.

Rather would the High Gods permit Death to be the Master of Life, or Night to be Lord of Day.

Is there no other way ?" "Yes, there is another way, and only one to save me, Nefer--if truly the soul of my beloved is looking out of thine eyes into mine," she whispered, coming close to him and laying her hands lightly upon his shoulders, "there is another way, but it is the way that leads through the mystery of the things that are into the deeper mystery of the things that are to be--the way of death and vengeance.

Tell me, my beloved, hast thou the courage to tread it with me ?" The lovely face, the pleading lips, the searching eyes were close to his.