'I could have loved him,' she said. 'I desire no husband now.' 'That is not true,' Zehowah answered quickly. 'You wish to marry Khaled, and that is the reason why you killed Abdul Kerim.' Almasta started as a camel struck by a flight of locusts. 'What is this lie?' she cried out with indignation. 'Who has told you this lie?' But her face was as grey as a stone, and her lips trembled. 'You probably killed him by magic arts learned in your own country,' said Zehowah quietly. 'Do not be afraid. We are alone, and no one can hear us. Tell me how you killed him. Truly it was very skilful of you, since the physician, who is the wisest man in Arabia, could not tell how it was done.' But Almasta began to beat her breast and to make oaths and asseverations in her own language, which Zehowah could not understand. 'If you will tell me how you did it, I will give you a rich gift,' Zehowah continued. But so much the more Almasta cried out, stretching her hands upwards and speaking incomprehensible words. So Zehowah waited until she became quiet again. 'It may be that Khaled will marry you, if you will tell me your secret,' Zehowah said, after a time. Then Almasta's cheek burned and she bent down her eyes. 'Will you tell me how to kill a man and leave no trace?' asked Zehowah, still pressing her. 'Look at this pearl. Is it not beautiful? See how well it looks upon your hair. It is as the leaf of a white rose upon a river of red gold. And on your neck--you cannot see it yourself--it is like the full moon hanging upon a milky cloud. Khaled would give you many pearls like this, if he married you. Will you not tell me?' 'Whom do you wish to kill?' Almasta asked, very suddenly. But Zehowah was unmoved. 'It may be that I have a private enemy,' she said. 'Perhaps there is one who disturbs me, against whom I plot in the night, but can find no way of ridding myself of him. A woman might give much to destroy such a one.' 'Khaled will kill your enemies. He loves you. He will kill all whom you hate.' 'You make progress. You speak our language better,' said Zehowah, laughing a little. 'You will soon be able to tell the Sultan that you love him, as well as I could myself.' 'But you do not love him,' Almasta answered boldly. Zehowah bent her brows so that they met between her eyes as the grip of a bow. Then Khaled's heart leaped in his breast, for he saw that she was angry with the woman, and he supposed it was because she secretly loved him. But he held his breath lest even his breathing should betray him. 'The portion of fools is fire,' said Zehowah, not deigning to give any other answer. For she was a king's daughter and Almasta a bought slave, though Khaled had taken her in war. 'Be merciful!' exclaimed Almasta, in humble tones. 'I am your handmaid, and I speak Arabic badly.' 'You speak with exceeding clearness when it pleases you.' 'Indeed I cannot talk in your language, for it is not long since I came into Arabia.'