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Updated: May 23, 2025
Kenkenes interpreted her behavior at once. "There is another guest," he thought with a smile, "and I can name him as promptly as any chanting sorcerer might." When the serving woman returned she bade him follow her and led the way to the house-top. There, under the subdued light of a single lamp, was the Lady Ta-meri; at her feet, Nechutes.
"Ah, but in this nook thy good wishes will be none the less sincere nor my delight any less apparent." "Most heartily I give thee joy!" Kenkenes kissed her hand. "And wilt thou say that to Nechutes and put him in the highest heaven?" "Already have I wished him well," she responded, pretending to pout, "but he repaid me poorly." "Nay! What did he?" "Begged me to become his wife."
"He will be more welcome to me than the Nile overflow. The city has been a desert to me since he departed." Nechutes looked at her with reproach in his eyes. "Consider the desert, O sweet Oasis," Kenkenes said softly. "Is not its portion truly grievous if its single palm complain?" The lady dropped her eyes and her cheeks glowed even through the dusk.
To prove my sincerity I will wager my biggest diamond against thy three brightest smiles that thou wilt hear of Kenkenes again, alive and dreamy as ever, led into this strange absence by some moonshine caprice." "I would give more than my biggest diamond to believe thee," Nechutes muttered, turning away. "Wilt thou wager?" the fan-bearer demanded with animation.
As if to delay the reading of it, the king dismissed Nechutes and signed Kenkenes to arise. Then he turned the scroll over and over in his hands, inspecting it. "Age does not cool the fever of retaliation," he said thoughtfully, "and this ancient Jambres hath a grudge against me. Come," he exclaimed as if an idea had struck him, "do thou open it."
"Already have I stayed too long," he replied. "But thy hospitality makes one forget the debt one owes to a prior guest." She looked at him from under silken lashes. "Nechutes has misconducted himself," she objected, "and I would not be left alone with him." "Wouldst thou have me stay and see him restored to favor under my very eyes? Ah, Ta-meri, where is thy womanly compassion?"
He knew that Ta-meri loved thee and he nobly surrendered, but was the hurt any less because he submitted?" Nechutes released her and turned away. Ta-meri covered her face with her hands and followed him. He did not pause for her, and she had to hasten her steps to keep up with him. The princess looked after them for a space and went on.
He paused, for her eyes, growing remorseful, had wandered away from him. He knew he had reasoned well. The guests in the banquet-room began to emerge, talking and laughing. The voice of Nechutes was not heard among them. Kenkenes glanced toward the group and saw the cup-bearer a trifle in advance, his sullen face averted. "He comes yonder," Kenkenes added in a whisper, "poor, moody boy!
Ta-meri was more than usually brilliant, and Nechutes, flushed with her favor, was playing splendidly and rejoicing beyond reason over his gains. Opposite this group was another, the center of which was Masanath. She sat in the richest seat in the house of Senci.
The irrepressible Menes observed to Io in one of his characteristic undertones, but so that all the company heard it: "What makes us surly to-night? Look at Kenkenes; I think he is in love! What aileth thee, sweet Io? Hast lost much to that gambling pair Ta-meri and Nechutes? And behold thy fellows! What a sulky lot! I am the most cheerful spirit among us."
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