“Why not?”

“Because I thought it possible that the Great King would spend the summer in Ecbatana, and that I should therefore be there myself to give my own directions.  I forgot the letter because I had to take both hands to draw the bolt, and I was coming back to get it.  Nehushta the princess is with me—­she is now upon the staircase.”

The king looked thoughtfully at his wife’s beautiful face.

“You have evidently spoken the truth,” he said slowly.  “But it is not always easy to understand what your truth signifies.  I often think it would be much wiser to strangle you.  Say you that Nehushta is near?  Call her, then.  Why does she tarry?”

In truth Nehushta had trembled as she crouched upon the stairs, not knowing whether to descend or to fly up the steps again.  As she heard the queen pronounce her name, however, she judged it prudent to seem to have been out of earshot, and with quick, soft steps, she went up till she came to the lighted part, and there she waited.

“Let the Great King go himself and find her,” said Atossa proudly, “if he doubts me any further.”  She stood aside to let him pass.  But Darius beckoned to Zoroaster to go.  He had remained standing at some distance, an unwilling witness to the royal altercation that had taken place before him; but as he passed the queen, she gave him a glance of imploring sadness, as though beseeching his sympathy in what she was made to suffer.  He ran quickly up the steps in spite of the darkness, and found Nehushta waiting by the window higher up.  She started as he appeared, for he was the person she least expected.  But he took her quickly in his arms, and kissed her passionately twice.

“Come quickly, my beloved,” he whispered.  “The king waits below.”

“I heard his voice—­and then I fled,” she whispered hurriedly; and they began to descend again.  “I hate her—­I knew I should,” she whispered, as she leaned upon his arm.  So they emerged into the corridor, and met Darius waiting for them.  The queen was nowhere to be seen, and the door at the farther extremity of the narrow way was wide open.

The king was as calm as though nothing had occurred; he still held the open letter in his hand as Nehushta entered the passage, and bowed herself before him.  He took her hand for a moment, and then dropped it; but his eyes flashed suddenly and his arm trembled at her touch.

“Thou hadst almost lost thy way,” he said.  “The palace is large and the passages are many and devious.  Come now, I will lead thee to the gardens.  There thou canst find friends among the queen’s noble women, and amusements of many kinds.  Let thy heart delight in the beauty of Shushan, and if there is anything that thou desirest, ask and I will give it thee.”

Nehushta bent her head in thanks.  The only thing she desired was to be alone for half an hour with Zoroaster; and that seemed difficult.