"Haggard, H Rider- Morning Star" - читать интересную книгу автора (Haggard H. Rider)

you say, my dear. The royal Abi does not like to hear the colour of
his late mother defined so closely. But why did he slap your face?"

She told him.

"Well," he answered, "if I had been in his place I would rather have
kissed it, for it is pretty, decidedly pretty," and this learned man
forgot himself so far as to wink at Merytra.

"There, Sister," said the girl, "I always told you that rough shells
have sweet nuts inside of them. Thank you for your compliment, Master
of learning. Will you tell us our fortune for nothing?"

"Yes, yes," he answered; "at least the fee I want will cost you
nothing. Now stop this nonsense," he added, anxiously, "I gather that
/he/ is cross."

"I never saw him crosser, Kaku. I am glad it is you who reads the
stars, not I. Listen!"

As he spoke an angry roar reached them from the high deck above.

"Where is that accursed astrologer?" said the roar.

"There, what did I tell you? Oh! never mind the rest of the papers, go
at once. Your robe is full of rolls as it is."

"Yes," answered Kaku as he ran to the ladder, "but the question is,
how will he like what is in the rolls?"

"The gods be with you!" cried one of the girls after him, "you will
need them all."

"And if you get back alive, don't forget your promise about the
fortunes," said the other.

A minute later this searcher of the heavens, a tall, hook-nosed man,
was prostrating himself before Abi in his pavilion on the upper deck,
so low that his Syrian-shaped cap fell from his bald head.

"Why were you so long in coming?" asked Abi.

"Because your slaves could not find me, royal Son of the Sun. I was at
work in my cabin."

"Indeed, I thought I heard them giggling with you down there. What did
you call me? Royal Son of the Sun? That is Pharaoh's name! Have the
stars shown you----?" and he looked at him eagerly.

"No, Prince, not exactly that. I did not think it needful to search