"'Would Olaf tell one woman that another was like a goddess, Martina, even though she to whom he spoke was his god-mother and a dozen years younger than himself? Come,' she added, 'and let us see if we can find this Egyptian.'
"Then," Heliodore went on, "not knowing what to do, I stood still there against the rockwork and the flowers till presently, round the bushes, appeared the splendid lady and Martina."
Now when I, Olaf, heard all this, I groaned and said: "Oh! Heliodore, it was the Augusta herself."
"Yes, it was the Augusta, as I learned presently. Well, they came, and I curtsied to them.
"'Are you the daughter of Magas, the Egyptian?' asked the lady, eyeing me from head to foot.
"'Yes, Madam,' I answered. 'I am Heliodore, the daughter of Magas. I pray that I have done no wrong in walking in this garden, but the General Olaf, the Master of the Palace, gave me leave to come here.'
"'And did the General Olaf, whom we know as Michael, give you that necklace which you wear, also, O Daughter of Magas? Nay, you must needs answer me, for I am the Augusta.'
"Now I curtsied again, and said: "'Not so, O Augusta; the necklace is from Old Egypt, and was found upon the body of a royal lady in a tomb. I have worn it for many years.'
"'Indeed, and that which the General Michael wears came also from a tomb.'
"'Yes, he told me so, Augusta,' I said.
"'It would seem that the two must once have been one, Daughter of Magas?'
"'It may be so, Augusta; I do not know.'
"Now the Empress looked about her, and the lady Martina, dropping behind, began to fan herself.
"'Are you married, girl?' she asked.
"'No,' I answered.
"'Are you affianced?'
"Now I hesitated a little, then answered 'No' again.
"'You seem to be somewhat doubtful on the point. Farewell for this while. When you walk abroad in our garden, which is open to you, be pleased to array yourself in the dress of our country, and not in that of a courtesan of Egypt.'"
"What did you answer to that saying?" I asked.
"That which was not wise, I fear, Olaf, for my temper stirred me. I answered: 'Madam, I thank you for your permission to walk in your garden. If ever I should do so again as your guest, be sure that I will not wear garments which, before Byzantium was a village, were sacred to the gods of my country and those of my ancestors the Queens of Egypt.'"