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Updated: May 9, 2025
Ritti-Marduk, who had come in and had stood waiting while Cyril wrote, his Babylonish eyes nearly starting out of his Babylonish head, now took the letter, with some reluctance. 'O Queen, live for ever! Is it a charm? he timidly asked. 'A strong charm, most great lady? 'YES, said Robert, unexpectedly, 'it IS a charm, but it won't hurt anyone until you've given it to Jane.
The word made the children feel rather creepy; but Ritti-Marduk had tasted all the cups, so they felt pretty safe. The drink was delicious very cold, and tasting like lemonade and partly like penny ices. 'Leave us, said the Queen. And all the Court ladies, in their beautiful, many-folded, many-coloured, fringed dresses, filed out slowly, and the children were left alone with the Queen.
And then she'll destroy it, so that it CAN'T hurt anyone. It's most awful strong! as strong as Peppermint! he ended abruptly. 'I know not the god, said Ritti-Marduk, bending timorously. 'She'll tear it up directly she gets it, said Robert, 'That'll end the charm. You needn't be afraid if you go now.
Ritti-Marduk went, seeming only partly satisfied; and then the Queen began to admire the penny account-book and the bit of pencil in so marked and significant a way that Cyril felt he could not do less than press them upon her as a gift. She ruffled the leaves delightedly. 'What a wonderful substance! she said. 'And with this style you make charms? Make a charm for me!
'We found out it was no go, said Cyril; 'it's not to be got in Babylon. It was lost before that. We'll go to some other jolly friendly place, where everyone is kind and pleasant, and look for it there. Now tell us about your part. 'Oh, said Jane, 'the Queen's man with the smooth face what was his name? 'Ritti-Marduk, said Cyril.
'Ritti-Marduk shall run down to the gates and find out which guard your sister went home with. 'Might he' Anthea's voice was tremulous 'might he would it interfere with his meal-times, or anything like that, if he went NOW? 'Of course he shall go now. He may think himself lucky if he gets his meals at any time, said the Queen heartily, and clapped her hands.
It was the kind of dinner you hardly ever get in Fitzroy Street. After dinner everybody went to sleep, even the children. The Queen awoke with a start. 'Good gracious! she cried, 'what a time we've slept! I must rush off and dress for the banquet. I shan't have much more than time. 'Hasn't Ritti-Marduk got back with our sister and the Psammead yet? Anthea asked. 'I QUITE forgot to ask.
I'm sorry, said the Queen. 'And of course they wouldn't announce her unless I told them to, except during justice hours. I expect she's waiting outside. I'll see. Ritti-Marduk came in a moment later. 'I regret, he said, 'that I have been unable to find your sister. The beast she bears with her in a basket has bitten the child of the guard, and your sister and the beast set out to come to you.
'Yes, said Jane, 'Ritti-Marduk, he came for me just after the Psammead had bitten the guard-of-the-gate's wife's little boy, and he took me to the Palace. And we had supper with the new little Queen from Egypt. She is a dear not much older than you. She told me heaps about Egypt. And we played ball after supper. And then the Babylon Queen sent for me. I like her too.
I'll wake my chief lady and she shall call Ritti-Marduk, and he'll let you out the back way, and 'Don't rouse anybody for goodness' sake, said Anthea, 'except Jane, and I'll rouse her. She shook Jane with energy, and Jane slowly awoke. 'Ritti-Marduk brought them in hours ago, really, said the Queen, 'but I wanted to have the Psammead all to myself for a bit.
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