The Keepers of the People

1326They mounted, and rode on slowly, finding the villages still awake, though it was well past midnight. Then, very tired, they dismounted and rested a while. The moon was low down in the sky. At the appointed place they found their escort awaiting them; and having changed horses with two of them, rode more swiftly for home. The country was at last asleep. Their road ran through the camp of the picked regiments; and twenty minutes after riding through it they came to the palace. They were tired and sleepy indeed, almost too tired to eat the supper that was set ready for them. Ruth, for her part, would have gone straight to bed without food; but Althea drinking off a cup of wine, made her do the like; and it gave them the life to eat. Then they dragged themselves stiffly up to the Golden Rooms; the mutes undressed them; helped them into the bath; they went straight from it to their beds, and let their maids dry, and brush their hair, while they slept.

1327It was noon before they awoke, Ruth still stiff, Althea fresh and cheerful; and after they had broken their fast, they went to the top of the tower. There they found the old Prince and Vashti, and Althea told him of the suspense of the people. After an hour’s watching, and seeing nothing, Althea went down and despatched couriers to bring her word of what was befalling.