"Well?" asked the dwarf.

"Folly!" muttered the witch, stretching herself as if awaking from
sleep. "Madness! He--is long since dead, and if he were not it would
be all the same to me. All men are alike, and Mena will be like the
rest."

"But Paaker surely is governed by the demon you describe?" asked the
dwarf.

"May be," replied his mother; "but he is self-willed to madness. He
would simply give his life for the thing because it is denied him. If
your mistress Nefert were his, perhaps he might be easier; but what is
the use of chattering? I must go over to the gold tent, where everyone
goes now who has any money in their purse, to speak to the mistress--"

"What do you want with her?" interrupted Nemu. "Little Uarda over
there," said the old woman, "will soon be quite well again. You have
seen her lately; is she not grown beautiful, wonderfully beautiful? Now
I shall see what the good woman will offer me if I take Uarda to her?
the girl is as light-footed as a gazelle, and with good training would
learn to dance in a very few weeks."

Nemu turned perfectly white.

"That you shall not do," said he positively.

"And why not?" asked the old woman, "if it pays well."