mosaics and tiles, its hangings and slim pillars. In the hall was an open circle of small tables, at which a handful of guests, on cushions and mats, reclined. There were four men and two women at these tables, other than the Lady Florence, the hostess, and her guest of the past several days, the Lady Melpomene. The tables were covered with cloths of glistening white and a service of gold. Before each guests there were tiny slices of tospit and larma, small pastries, and, in a tiny golden cup, with a small golden spoon, the clustered, black, tiny eggs of the white grunt. The first wine, a light white wine, was being deferentially served by Pamela and Bonnie. Both girls were beautiful, in flowing, classic white. Their arms, of course, were bare, as is common with slave girls. On the throat of each was a lustrously polished silver collar, and on the left wrist of each, locked, with a chain loop, should one desire to secure them, a matching bracelet. Both girls, of course, were barefoot.
'When these papers are signed,' said the Lady Melpomene, happily, lifting some papers from the table in front of her, 'I shall be free of my debts.'
There was polite applause, the striking of the left shoulder, from those at the tables, including the Lady Florence.
'And all this I awe to my dear friend,' said the Lady Melpomene, 'the Lady Florence!'
There was again light applause, but this time, the Lady Florence, being the object of the commendation, merely bowed her head graciously.
'I lift my wine to the Lady Florence of Vonda!' said the Lady Melpomene.
'We lift our wine to the Lady Florence of Vonda,' said the guests.
All then drank, save the Lady Florence, who, smiling, did not lift her cup. Free women, drinking, commonly lift their veil, or veils, with the left hand. Low-caste free women, if veiled, usually do the same. Sometimes, however, particularly if in public, they will drink through their veil, or veils. Sometimes, of course, free women will drink unveiled, even with guests. Much depends on how well the individuals are known, and who is present. In their homes, of course, with only members of their families present, or servants and slaves, most free women do not veil themselves, even those of high caste.
'I thank you, citizens of Vonda and others, friends, all,' said the Lady Florence. 'And now I, in turn, lift my cup.'
All lifted their cups, save the Lady Melpomene.
'I lift my cup,' said the Lady Florence, 'to the beautiful Lady Melpomene of Vonda, who is beautiful enough even to wear the collar of a slave!'
There was laughter at this bold toast, and the Lady Melpomene, reddening, smiling, put down her head. 'Please, Lady Florence,' she chided. 'There are those here who are not of Vonda.' She looked across the tables, across the space between them, to where three men sat, one of Venna, and two of Ar. 'What will your guests think?' she asked.
'Fear not, Lady Melpomene,' said one of the men, one of Ar, who raised his cup. 'I am sure that the toast of the Lady Florence is true in all particulars.'
There was again laughter, and all drank, save the Lady Melpomene, who, embarrassed, smiling, was the object of the toast.
Pamela and Bonnie, heads down, silent effacing themselves, as is proper with slaves, again filled the small golden cups. It was again a serving of the first wine. In a Gorean supper in a house of wealth, in the course of the supper, with varied courses, eight to ten wines might be served, each suitably and congruously matched with respect to texture and bouquet not only to one another but to the accompanying portions of food.
I looked about, through the curtain, at the guests of the Lady Florence, other than the Lady Melpomene. The fellow from Venna, clad in white and gold, was Philebus, a bounty creditor. He was known to the merchants of several cities. Such men buy bills at discount and then set themselves to collect, as they can, their face value. They are tenacious in their trade. I did not know the business of the two men from Ar. They were Tenalion, and his man, Ronald. 'The fourth man was Brandon. He was from Vonda. He was a prefect in that city. His certifications on certain documents would be important. The two ladies, both of Vonda, were Leta and Perimene, both friends of the Ladies Florence and Melpomene. As free citizens of Vonda they could witness legal transactions.
'The Lady Melpomene is richly garbed,' I noted to Kenneth, who stood beside me.
'The garments are those of the Lady Florence,' he said.
'I see,' I said.
'Even the perfume she wears is that of the Lady Florence,' said Kenneth.
'I see,' I said.
As we spoke some five musicians entered the room and took their places to one side. There was a czehar player, two flutists, a kalika player, and a player on the kaska, a small hand drum.
Between the tables there was a large, tiled scarlet circle, some twelve feet in width, with an iron ring at its center. 'What is the entertainment you have planned for us, Lady Florence?' inquired the Lady Melpomene.
'It is to be a surprise,' said the Lady Florence.
'I can hardly wait,' said the Lady Melpomene.
'You are so secretive, Florence,' laughed the Lady Leta, as though chiding the Lady Florence. Yet from her laugh I through it not unlikely that she knew well what was in store.
Philebus, across the tiled circle, cleared his throat. 'Let us conduct our business,' he said. 'We may then proceed to the amusements of the evening.'
'A splendid idea!' said the Lady Florence.
'A splendid idea!' said the Lady Melpomene.
'Before you Lady Melpomene of Vonda,' said Philebus, 'lie several papers, detailing the consolidation of your debts. These papers are certified by the bank of Bemus in Venna, and are witnessed by the signatures of two citizens of that city. Do you acknowledge that the tallies are correct and that the debts are yours?'
'I do,' said the Lady Melpomene.
'I now,' said he, 'by my purchased rights, charge you with these debts and demand payment.'
'And, thanks to my friend, the Lady Florence, she of Vonda,' said the Lady Melpomene, 'you shall have your payments, and now. The Lady Florence has graciously agreed to lend me the full amount of the due notes and at no interest.'
This seemed to me incredibly generous of the Lady Florence. Kenneth, near me, behind the curtain, was smiling.
'I herewith publicly sign,' said the Lady Melpomene, 'this loan note, made out to the Lady Florence of Vonda, for the full sum of one thousand, four hundred and twenty tares of gold.'
'And I,' said the Lady Florence, 'herewith publicly sign this draft, marked in the same amount, drawn on the bank of Reginald in Vonda, and properly certified, made out to Philebus of Venna.'
She handed the draft to the Lady Melpomene. The Lady Melpomene handed her back the loan note. Philebus of Venna went to the table of the Lady Melpomene and took the draft. He looked at it, and was satisfied, and placed it in his pouch. The loan note was carried by the Lady Florence herself to the prefect and to the Lady Leta and the Lady Perimene. These, with their signatures, and the prefect with a stamp also, certified and witnessed the loan note. Pamela and Bonnie, incidentally, the two enslaved Gorean beauties in attendance on the tables, did not fetch or carry the documents about. This had been done by Philebus of Venna and the Lady Florence. Slaves, generally, are not permitted to touch legal documents. They are slaves.
'You are now my full and only creditor, Lady Florence,' said the Lady Melpomene. 'I trust that you will be merciful, and kind, to me.'
'You will be treated precisely as you deserve,' the Lady Florence assured her.
'Let us all, together rejoicing,' called out the Lady Melpomene, 'prepare to lift our cups to our lovely and generous hostess, she with whom I share a Home Stone, my dearest friend, the Lady Florence of Vonda!' The Lady Melpomene reached for her cup.
'Do not touch that cup, Slut,' said the Lady Florence.
'Florence!' cried the Lady Melpomene.
'Have you paid for the wine?' asked the Lady Florence. 'Can you pay for it?'
'I do not understand,' stammered the Lady Melpomene.
The Lady Florence reached to the tiny cup of wine, and seized it up, and hurled its contents against the Lady Melpomene. It struck against her veil and the upper portions of her garments.
'What are you doing?' demanded the Lady Melpomene angrily.