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Dom Manuel confessed, in reply to jealous questionings, that he did not think Alianora quite so beautiful nor so clever as Niafer had been, but this, as Manuel pointed out, was hardly a matter which could be remedied.
When later he climbed back, a lock had been sheared from the side of his gray head. Now the tale tells that thereafter Dom Manuel was changed, and his attendants gossiped about it. Dame Niafer also was moved to mild wonderment over the change in him, but did not think it very important, because there is never any accounting for what a husband will do.
"I neither love nor entirely hate you, ugly and lame and lean and fretful Niafer, but assuredly I do not envy you. You are welcome to your fidgeting gray husband. My husband is a ruthless god. My husband does not grow old and tender-hearted and subservient to me, and he never will." Thereafter Freydis bent downward, and Freydis kissed the child she had christened.
But glittering messengers came from Raymond Bérenger, and from King Helmas, and from Queen Stultitia, each to discuss this and that possible alliance and aid by and by. Everybody was very friendly if rather vague. But Manuel for the present considered only Niafer and the baby that was to come, and he let statecraft bide.
"So there, you see!" said Niafer, quite comfortable again in her mind when she noted the careless way in which Dom Manuel spoke of the Queen. A year or two earlier Dame Niafer would perhaps have been moved to jealousy: now her only concern was that Manuel might possibly be led to make a fool of himself and to upset their manner of living.
This day being a Thursday, Manuel and Niafer entered unchallenged through gates of horn and ivory; and came into a red corridor in which five gray beasts, like large hairless cats, were casting dice. These animals grinned, and licked their lips, as the boys passed deeper into the doubtful palace.
The Count smiled, and he twirled the thing between his fingers, and he meditated. He shrugged, and said: "Needs must. But for her ready wit, my head would have been set to dry on a silver pike. I cannot well ignore that obligation, if she, as it now seems, does not intend to ignore it." Then he told Niafer he must go into England.
And I who have served your turn! I may now depart, to look for Sesphra, and for my pardon if I can get it." "But whither do you go, dear Freydis?" Dom Manuel spoke as though he again felt quite fond of her. "What does that matter," she answered, looking long and long at him, "now that Count Manuel has no further need of me?" Then Freydis looked at Niafer, lying there in a charmed sleep.
"Why, I desire the cleverest and dearest and most wonderful creature in all the world," says Manuel, "whom I recollect seeing some six weeks ago when I was in the kitchen at Arnaye." "Ah, ah! it might be arranged, then. But who is this marvelous woman?" Manuel said, "You are that woman, Niafer." Niafer replied nothing, but Niafer smiled.
And yes, you are a princess, of course, though you are no longer the Unattainable Princess: that makes a difference certainly But, over and above all this, there was never anybody like Niafer, and it would be nonsense to pretend otherwise." The Princess said: "I wonder at myself.
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