He stood looking at her steadily and his gaze did not falter.
When he spoke, his voice was grave and for once there was no smile on his face.
"I shall not lie to you, Renisenb."
He waited a moment, frowning a little as though trying to arrange his thoughts.
"In a way, Renisenb, I am glad that you do know - though it is not quite as you think."
"You gave the broken amulet to her - as you would have given it to me - as a sign that you were halves of the same whole.
Those were your words."
"You are angry, Renisenb. I am glad because that shows that you love me.
But all the same, I must make you understand.
I did not give the amulet to Nofret. She gave it to me..." He paused.
"Perhaps you do not believe me, but it is true.
I swear that it is true."
Renisenb said slowly: "I will not say that I do not believe you...
That may very well be true."
Nofret's dark, unhappy face rose up before her eyes.
Kameni was going on, eagerly, boyishly... "Try to understand, Renisenb.
Nofret was very beautiful.
I was flattered and pleased.
Who would not be?
But I never really loved her -"
Renisenb felt an odd pang of pity.
No, Kameni had not loved Nofret - but Nofret had loved Kameni - had loved him despairingly and bitterly.
It was at just this spot on the Nile bank that she had spoken to Nofret that morning, offering her friendship and affection.
She remembered only too well the dark tide of hate and misery that had emanated from the girl then.
The cause of it was clear enough now.
Poor Nofret - the concubine of a fussy, elderly man - eating her heart out for love of a gay, careless, handsome young man who had cared little or nothing for her.
Kameni was going on eagerly: "Do you not understand, Renisenb, that as soon as I came here, I saw you and loved you? That from that moment I thought of no one else?
Nofret saw it plainly enough."
Yes, Renisenb thought, Nofret had seen it.
Nofret had hated her from that moment - and Renisenb did not feel inclined to blame her.
"I did not even want to write the letter to your father.
I did not want to have anything to do with Nofret's schemes any more.
But it was difficult - you must try to realize that it was difficult."
"Yes, yes." Renisenb spoke impatiently. "All that does not matter.
It is only Nofret that matters. She was very unhappy.
She loved you, I think, very much."
"Well, I did not love her." Kameni spoke impatiently.
"You are cruel," said Renisenb.
"No, I am a man, that is all.
If a woman chooses to make herself miserable about me, it annoys me, that is the simple truth.
I did not want Nofret.
I wanted you.
Oh, Renisenb, you cannot be angry with me for that!"
In spite of herself she smiled.
"Do not let Nofret who is dead make trouble between us who are living.
I love you, Renisenb, and you love me and that is all that matters." Yes, Renisenb thought, that is all that matters...
She looked at Kameni, who stood with his head a little on one side, a pleading expression on his gay, confident face.
He looked very young.
Renisenb thought: "He is right.
Nofret is dead and we are alive.