A couple of days later Rameses sent his favorite with a summons to Kama. She appeared soon in a tightly closed litter. Rameses received her in a separate chamber. "I was," said he, "outside thy house one evening." "Oh, Astaroth!" cried the priestess. "To what must I attribute this high favor? And what hindered thee, worthy lord, from deigning to summon thy slave?" "Some beasts were there,--Assyrians, I suppose." "Then thou didst take the trouble, worthiness, in the evening? Never could I have dared to suppose that our ruler was under the open sky, a few steps from me." The prince blushed. How she would be astounded could she know that he had passed ten evenings near her windows! But perhaps she knew it, judging by her half-smiling lips and her eyes cast down deceitfully. "So, then, Kama," said the prince, "thou receivest Assyrians at thy villa?" "That man is a great magnate,--Sargon,--a relative of King Assar," answered Kama; "he has brought five talents to our goddess." "And thou wilt repay him, Kama?" jeered the heir. "And since he is such a bountiful magnate, the Phœnician gods will not send thee death in punishment." "What dost thou say, lord?" exclaimed Kama, clasping her hands. "Dost thou not know that if an Asiatic found me in the desert he would not lay hands on me, even were I myself to yield to him? They fear the gods." "Why, then, does he come to thee, this malodorous--no--this pious Asiatic?" "Because he wants to persuade me to go to the temple of Astaroth in Babylon." "And wilt thou go?" "I will go if thou command me, lord," said Kama, concealing her face with her veil. The prince took her hands in silence. His lips quivered. "Do not touch me, lord," whispered she, with emotion. "Thou art my sovereign, my support, the support of all Phœnicians in this country--but have compassion." The viceroy let her go, and walked up and down through the chamber. "The day is hot, is it not?" asked he. "There are countries where in the month of Mechir white down falls from the sky, it is said; this down in the fire turns to water, and makes the air cold. Oh, Kama, beg thy gods to send me a little of that down,--though what do I say? If they should cover Egypt with it, all that down might be turned into water and not cool the heart in me." "For thou art like the divine Amon; thou art the sun concealed in human form," replied Kama. "Darkness flees from that place whither thou turnest thy countenance, and under the gleam of thy glances flowers blossom." The prince turned again to her. "But be compassionate," whispered she. "Moreover, thou art a kind god, hence thou canst not be unjust to thy priestess." The prince turned away again, and shook as if wishing to cast down a burden. Kama looked from beneath her drooping lids at him, and smiled slightly. When silence had endured too long, she said,-- "Thou hast commanded to summon me, Sovereign. Here I am, to hear what thy will is."