As we drove back Bes said to me suddenly,

"Do you know why you could not find me this morning?"

I answered that I did not.

"Because a good slave should always run a pace ahead of his master, to
clear the road and tell him of its pitfalls. I was being married. The
Cup of the holy Tanofir is now by law and right Queen of the
Ethiopians. So when you meet her again you must treat her with great
respect, as I do already."

"Indeed, Bes," I said laughing, "and how did you manage that business?
You must have wooed her well during these days which have been so full
for both of us."

"I did not woo her over much, Master; indeed, the time was lacking. I
wooed the holy Tanofir, which was more important."

"The holy Tanofir, Bes?" I exclaimed.

"Yes, Master. You see this beautiful Cup of his is after all--his
beautiful Cup. Her mind is the shadow of his mind and from her he
pours out his wisdom. So I told him all the case. At first he was
angry, for, notwithstanding the words he spoke to you and me, when it
came to a point the holy Tanofir, being after all much like other men,
did not wish to lose his Cup. Indeed had he been a few score of years
younger I am not sure but that he would have forgotten some of his
holiness because of her. Still he came to see matters in the true
light at last--for your sake, Master, not for mine, since his wisdom