“I do not trust you,” she answered, interrupting these assurances.  “I have been warned against your smooth tongue, and I do not know what I have done to deserve this kind interest.”

“Do you know this?” he asked, showing her a white ribbon embroidered all over with little golden flames.

“It is the last present I worked for him,” exclaimed Mandane.

“I asked him for this token, because I knew you would not trust me.  Who ever heard of a prisoner loving his jailer?”

“But tell me at once, quickly—­what does my old playfellow want me to do?  Look, the-western sky is beginning to glow.  Evening is coming on, and I must arrange my mistress’s dress and ornaments for the banquet.”

“Well, I will not keep you long,” said the eunuch, becoming so serious that Mandane was frightened.  “If you do not choose to believe that I would run into any risk out of friendship to you, then fancy that I forward your love affair to humble the pride of Oropastes.  He threatens to supplant me in the king’s favor, and I am determined, let him plot and intrigue as he likes, that you shall marry Gaumata.  To-morrow evening, after the Tistar-star has risen, your lover shall come to see you.  I will see that all the guards are away, so that he can come without danger, stay one hour and talk over the future with you; but remember, only one hour.  I see clearly that your mistress will be Cambyses’ favorite wife, and will then forward your marriage, for she is very fond of you, and thinks no praise too high for your fidelity and skill.  So to-morrow evening,” he continued, falling back into the jesting tone peculiar to him, “when the Tistar-star rises, fortune will begin to shine on you.  Why do you look down?  Why don’t you answer?  Gratitude stops your pretty little mouth, eh? is that the reason?  Well, my little bird, I hope you won’t be quite so silent, if you should ever have a chance of praising poor Boges to your powerful mistress.  And what message shall I bring to the handsome Gaumata?  May I say that you have not forgotten him and will be delighted to see him again?  You hesitate?  Well, I am very sorry, but it is getting dark and I must go.  I have to inspect the women’s dresses for the birthday banquet.  Ah! one thing I forgot to mention.  Gaumata must leave Babylon to-morrow.  Oropastes is afraid, that he may chance to see you, and told him to return to Rhage directly the festival was over.  What! still silent?  Well then, I really cannot help you or that poor fellow either.  But I shall gain my ends quite as well without you, and perhaps after all it is better that you should forget one another.  Good-bye.”

It was a hard struggle for the girl.  She felt nearly sure that Boges was deceiving her, and a voice within warned her that it would be better to refuse her lover this meeting.  Duty and prudence gained the upper hand, and she was just going to exclaim:  “Tell him I cannot see him,” when her eye caught the ribbon she had once embroidered for her handsome playfellow.  Bright pictures from her childhood flashed through her mind, short moments of intoxicating happiness; love, recklessness and longing gained the day in their turn over her sense of right, her misgivings and her prudence, and before Boges could finish his farewell, she called out, almost in spite of herself and flying towards the house like a frightened fawn:  “I shall expect him.”