"Have
respect for thyself and indulge their caprice no more."
"Hast thou not heard that we may compel the gods?" he asked. "Perhaps
I do but indulge them, of a truth. But let me set mine own will
against fate and there shall be no more losing for me."
"It is a precarious game. Perchance there is as strong a will as
thine, compelling the Hathors contrarily to thine own desires. What,
then, O Rameses?"
"By the gambling god, Toth, I shall try it!" he exclaimed. "The
opportunity is before me even now."
He took her hand.
"I catch thy meaning. Beloved of Isis! Thou didst challenge me long
ago, and long ago I took it up. Thus far have we fenced behind
shields. Down with the bull-hide, now, and bare the heart!"
"Thou dost forget thyself," she retorted, wrenching her hand from him.
"The eyes of thy guests are upon thee."
He laughed. "The prince's doings become the fashion. Let me be seen
and there shall be no woman's hand unpossessed in this chamber."
"Thou shalt set no fashion by me. Neither shalt thou rend the Hathors
between thy wishes and mine. Furthermore, if thou dost forget thy
princely dignity, thy power will not prevent me if I would remind thee
of thy lapse."
"War!" he exclaimed.
Pages:
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391