Charmian ordered her maid to speak openly; but Anukis, ere she began, assured them that she had received the news she brought from a most trustworthy source—­only it would make a heavy demand upon the resolution and courage of Barine, whom she had hoped to find in a very different mood.  There was no time to lose.  She was expected at the appointed place an hour after sunset.

Here Charmian interrupted the maid with the exclamation “Impossible!” and reminded her of the guards which Alexas, aided by Iras, who was thoroughly familiar with the palace, had stationed the day before in the anteroom, at all the doors—­nay, even beneath the windows.

The Nubian replied that everything had been considered; but, to gain time, she must beg Barine to let her colour her skin and curl her hair while she was talking.

The surprise visible in the young beauty’s face caused her to exclaim:  “Only act with entire confidence.  You shall learn everything directly.  There is so much to tell!  On the way here I had planned how to relate the whole story in regular order, but it can’t be done now.  No, no!  Whoever wants to save a flock of sheep from a burning shed must lead out the bell-wether first—­the main thing, I mean—­so I will begin with that, though it really comes last.  The explanation of how all this—­”

Here, like a cry of joy, Barine’s exclamation interrupted her: 

“I am to fly, and Dion knows it and will follow me!  I see it in your face.”

In fact, every feature of the dusky maid-servant’s ugly face betrayed that pleasant thoughts were agitating her mind.  Her black eyes flashed with fearless daring, and a smile beautified her big mouth and thick lips as she replied: 

“A loving heart like yours understands the art of prophecy better than the chief priest of the great Serapis.  Yes, my young mistress, he of whom you speak must disappear from this wicked city where so much evil threatens you both.  He will certainly escape and, if the immortals aid us and we are wise and brave, you also.  Whence the help comes can be told later.  Now, the first thing is to transform you—­don’t be reluctant—­into the ugliest woman in the world—­black Anukis.  You must escape from the palace in this disguise.—­Now you know the whole plan, and while I get what is necessary from my chest of clothes, I beg you, mistress, to consider how we are to obtain the black stains for that ivory skin and golden hair.”

With these words she left the room, but Barine flung herself into her friend’s arms, exclaiming, amid tears and laughter:  “Though I should be forced to remain forever as black and crooked as faithful Aisopion, if he did not withdraw his love, though I were obliged to go through fire and water—­I would O Charmian! what changes so quickly as joy and sorrow?  I would fain show some kindness to every one in the world, even to your Queen, who has brought all these troubles upon me.”