"So. The lady Amada who you told the Great King is the most beautiful
one in the whole world, causing the fire of Love to burn up in his
royal heart, and with it many other things of which we do not know at
present."

"/You/ told him, Bes," I said angrily.

"I told him of a beautiful one; I did not tell him her name, Master,
and although I never thought of it at the time, perhaps she will be
angry with him who told her name."

Now fear took hold of me, and Bes saw it in my face.

"Do not be afraid, Master. If there is trouble I will swear that I
told the Great King that lady's name."

"Yes, Bes, but how would that fit in with the story, seeing that I was
brought out of the boat for this very purpose?"

"Quite easily, Master, since I will say that you were led from the
boat to confirm my tale. Oh! she will be angry with me, no doubt, but
in Egypt even a dwarf cannot be killed because he has declared a
certain lady to be the most beautiful in the world. But, Master, tell
me, when did you learn to love her?"

"When we were boy and girl, Bes. We used to play together, being
cousins, and I used to hold her hand. Then suddenly she refused to let
me hold her hand any more, and I being quite grown up then, though she
was younger, understood that I had better go away."