"I have loved the lady Amada from a child, Prince," I answered boldly.
"Also I have high blood in me and having brought much gold from the
East, am rich again and one accustomed to war."

"So you have brought gold from the East! How? Well, you can tell me
afterwards. But you fly high. You, a Count of Egypt, wish to marry the
Royal Lady of Egypt, for such she is by birth and rank, which, if ever
Egypt were free again, would give you a title to the throne."

"I ask no throne, Prince. If there were one to fill I should be
content to leave that to you and your heirs."

"So you say, no doubt honestly. But would the children of Amada say
the same? Would you even say it if you were her husband, and would she
say it? Moreover she is a priestess, sworn not to wed, though perhaps
that trouble might be overcome, if she wishes to wed, which I doubt.
Mayhap you might discover. Well, you are hungry and worn with long
travelling. Come, let us eat, and afterwards you can tell your story.
Amada and the others will be glad to hear it, as I shall. Follow me,
Count Shabaka."

So we went to the lesser banqueting-hall, I filled with joy because I
should see Amada, and yet, much afraid because of that story which I
must tell. Gathered there, waiting for the Prince, we found the
Princess his wife, a large and kindly woman, also his two eldest
daughters and his young son, a lad of about sixteen. Moreover, there
were certain officers, while at the tables of the lower hall sat
others of the household, men of smaller rank, and their wives, since
Peroa still maintained some kind of a shadow of the Court of old