ing he was least expected to do.

After the evening meal came a period of respite for those not on duty at
the house. Much license was carried on at such times, at which Hito
discreetly winked--unless he held a grudge against some luckless one.
Even he had been known to take a hand himself in various affairs, using
his official authority to gain his private ends.

Dusk deepened, and night fell. Hito rolled to the door of his office and
stood looking out into the court, picking his teeth with grunts of
well-fed content. A slave was lighting a brazier of charcoal near the
well in the centre of the court. The bit of blazing tinder, which he
nursed carefully between his hands, threw its light up into his face and
showed it in relief against the darkness, sombre, strongly marked, with
a thatch of black bushy hair. Hito, recognizing him, scowled with an
instantly aroused antagonism.

"Nicanor!" he shouted.

Nicanor lifted the brazier by its handle and came. When he reached Hito,
he set it down, for it was heavy. Hito jerked his head at it.

"Where are you taking that?" he demanded. If he had thought Nicanor had
been trying to steal it, he could not have thrown more suspicion into
his voice.

"To the rooms of the Lady Varia," Nicanor answered. From his tone it was
plain that the antagonism was mutual.

"Who commanded it?"

"Her nurse."

Even Hito had nothing to say to this. But, bound to show his authority,
he thought to have the last word.

"Well, leave it, and I will send another. I have a thing for you to do."

"No!" said Nicanor.

Hito's little pig eyes glinted.

"So be it! Take it, then," he said, and his voice was smooth as oil.
"You can still do what I would have--perhaps even better. Now pay
attention. When you go to our lady's apartments, look well around and
see one of her women there. She is, I know, on duty at this time, but in
what room I do not know. Speak with her, if you can, and say that I,
Hito, am willing to see her to-night, and that I expect her. She will
understand! Say that I wait for her,--she will know where,--and if she
does not come, I will find out why." He crossed his arms on his fat
chest.

"If she is not in the outer room I cannot seek her. I am no eunuch,"
said Nicanor, shortly.

"Maybe she will be there," Hito replied. "See, this is how you shall
know her. Look for one with black hair, with dark brows and eyes blue,
white in the face and somewhat lean, as though consumed by