"And have I myself served him, or not?" asked the pioneer flushing
darkly.

"He knows you less," returned Katuti apologetically. Then she changed
her tone to one of sympathy, and went on:

"How was it that you, young as you were, aroused his dissatisfaction, his
dislike, nay his--"

"His what?" asked the pioneer, trembling with excitement.

"Let that pass!" said the widow soothingly. "The favor and disfavor of
kings are as those of the Gods. Men rejoice in the one or bow to the
other."

"What feeling have I aroused in Rameses besides dissatisfaction, and
dislike? I insist on knowing!" said Paaker with increasing vehemence.

"You alarm me," the widow declared. "And in speaking ill of you, his
only motive was to raise his favorite in Nefert's estimation."

"Tell me what he said!" cried the pioneer; cold drops stood on his brown
forehead, and his glaring eyes showed the white eye-balls.

Katuti quailed before him, and drew back, but he followed her, seized her
arm, and said huskily:

"What did he say?"