Cora laughed and Caleb laughed and his eyes and teeth flashed and glittered.
"In that case, I'll think it over, Caleb!" laughed Cora. "In that case, I'll think it over!"
"Do think it over, Cora," laughed Caleb. "If you are willing, I'll buy you from your master. And we shall have a pleasure-boat of cedar-wood, but with sails like a bird's wings, so that we can either sail about on the sea or soar high into the clouds. And then on some nights we could visit the moon, where all the people are transparent, like shades.... This is not a fairy-tale, Cora; it's as I tell you. We have those magic ships in our seas, in our skies.... Think it over, Cora! Do think it over!"
And, while Cora was still laughing incredulously, Caleb girdled his tunic high and waded barefoot through the puddles of the palm-garden, looking round and laughing as he went. For Ghizla had called to him to see the canals which the slaves were digging to carry off the rain-water to the cisterns.
But Libyan bearers carried a litter into the garden.
The litter was close-curtained with blue canvas, against the rain.
And a veiled woman peeped through a slit in the curtains and beckoned to Caleb:
Caleb recognized her, but he answered with an air of innocence and asked:
"He," repeated the woman. "The young Roman, Publius Lucius Sabinus."
"He is at home, gracious lady," said Caleb. "But he is unwell. He will not see any one."
"If he is at home, I want to see him," said the woman.
And she alighted on the stone steps of the portico. She was closely wrapped in her veils, but Caleb had recognized her. And she offered Caleb a gold coin, which Caleb did not refuse, because business was business and a well-invested stater brought him still a little nearer to his native land, for which he was longing.
"I do not know whether I can let you in," said Caleb, hesitatingly.
The woman produced a second piece of gold. It disappeared in Caleb's girdle as though by witchcraft.
"In the princes' building, of course," said Caleb, proudly. "Where his little black slave is squatting."
The veiled woman went up to Tarrar, squatting on a mat outside a door:
"I want to see him," said the woman. "I want to speak to him. Take me to him."
"I dare not," said Tarrar. "He would be angry. It would be against his orders. He is accustomed to have us obey him."