I do not know why he refuses, but her Highness Userti is much with him." "For one who does not know, you have many reasons and all of them different, O instructed Ki," said Seti.
Then he paused, walking up and down the portico, and I who knew his mind guessed that he was wondering whether he would do well to suffer Ki, whom at times he feared because his objects were secret and never changed, to abide in his house, or whether he should send him away.

Ki also shivered a little, as though he felt the shadow cold, and descended from the portico into the bright sunshine.

Here he held out his hand and a great moth dropped from the roof and lit upon it, whereon it lifted it to his lips, which moved as though he were talking to the insect.
"What shall I do ?" muttered Seti, as he passed me.
"I do not altogether like his company, nor, I think, does the lady Merapi, but he is an ill man to offend, Prince," I answered.

"Look, he is talking with his familiar." Seti returned to his place, and shaking off the moth which seemed loth to leave him, for twice it settled on his head, Ki came back into the shadow.
"Where is the use of your putting questions to me, Ki, when, according to your own showing, already you know the answer that I will give?
What answer shall I give ?" asked the Prince.
"That painted creature which sat upon my hand just now, seemed to whisper to me that you would say, O Prince, 'Stay, Ki, and be my faithful servant, and use any little lore you have to shield my house from ill.'" Then Seti laughed in his careless fashion, and replied: "Have your way, since it is a rule that none of the royal blood of Egypt may refuse hospitality to those who seek it, having been their friends, and I will not quote against your moth what a bat whispered in my ears last night.

Nay, none of your salutations revealed to you by insects or by the future," and he gave him his hand to kiss.
When Ki was gone, I said: "I told you that night-haunting thing was his familiar." "Then you told me folly, Ana.