ed the words.

Then they both swore, touching their brows with the book, and as she
looked up again, Merytra saw a strange, flame-like light pulse in
the crystal globe that hung above her head, which became presently
infiltrated with crimson flowing through it as blood might flow from a
wound, till it glowed dull red, out of which redness a great eye watched
her. Then the eye vanished and the blood vanished, and in place of them
Queen Neter-Tua sat in glory on her throne, while the nations worshipped
her, and by her side sat a man in royal robes whose face was hidden in a
cloud.

"What do you see?" asked Kaku, following her gaze to the crystal.

She told him, and he pondered a while, then answered doubtfully:

"I think it is a good omen; the royal consort sits beside her. Only why
was his face hidden?"

"I am sure I do not know," answered Merytra. "I think that strong, red
wine of yours was doctored and has got into my head. But, come, we have
sworn this oath, which I dare say will work in more ways than we guess,
for such accursed swords have two edges to them. Now out with the plot,
and throw a cloth over that crystal for I want to see no more pictures."

"It seems a pity since you have such a gift of vision," replied Kaku in
the same dubious voice. Yet he obeyed, tying up the shining ball in a
piece of mummy wrapping which he used in his spells.

"Now," he said, "I will be brief. My fat master, Abi, means to be
Pharaoh of Egypt, and it seems that the best way to do so is by climbing
into his niece's throne, where most men would like to sit."

"You mean by marrying her, Kaku."

"Of course. What else? He who marries the Queen, rules in right of the
Queen."

"Indeed. Do you know anything of Neter-Tua?"

"As much as any other man knows; but what do you mean?"

"I mean that I shall be sorry for the husband who marries her against
her will, however beautiful and high-placed she may be. I tell you that
woman is a flame. She has more strength in her than all the magicians
in Egypt, yourself among them. They say she is a daughter of Amen, and I
believe it. I believe that the god dwells in her, and woe be to him whom
she may chance to hate, if he comes to her as a husband."

"That is Abi's business, is it not? Our business, Merytra, is to get him
there. Now we may take it this will not be with her consent."

"Certainly not, Kaku," she answered. "The gossip goes that she is in
love with young Count Rames, who fo