say these words, 'Figure, figure,
I command thee by the power within thee and in the name of the Lord
if Ill, that as thy limbs waste, so shall the limbs of him in whose
likeness thou art fashioned waste also.' Having spoken thus, hold the
legs of the image over the flame of a lamp until it be half melted, and
convey the rest of it away to your own sleeping-place and hide it there.
So it shall come about that during that night the nerves and muscles
in the legs of Pharaoh will wither and grow useless to him, and he be
paralysed and unable to stir. Afterwards, if it be needful, I will tell
you more."

Now, bold though she was, Merytra grew afraid.

"I cannot do it," she said, "it is black sorcery against one who is
a god, and will bring my soul to hell. Find some other instrument, or
place the waxen imp in the bed of Pharaoh yourself, Kaku."

The face of the magician grew fierce and cruel.

"Come with me, Merytra," he said, and taking her by the wrist he led her
to the open window-place whence he observed the stars.

So giddy was the height at the top of this lofty tower that the houses
beneath looked small and far away, and the sky quite near.

"Behold Memphis and the Nile, and the wide lands of Egypt gleaming in
the moonlight, and the Pyramids of the ancient kings. You wish to rule
over all these, like myself--do you not, Merytra?--and if you obey me
you shall do so."

"And if I do not obey?"

"Then I will throw my spell upon you, and your senses shall leave you
and you shall fall headlong to that white line, which is a street, and
before to-morrow morning the dogs will have picked your broken bones,
so that none can know you, for you have heard too much to go hence alive
unless it be to do my bidding. Oh, no! Think not to say 'I will' and
afterwards deceive me, for that image which you take with you is my
servant, and will keep watch on you and make report to me and to the
god, its master. Now choose."

"I will obey," said Merytra faintly, and as she spoke she thought that
she heard a laugh in the air outside the window.

"Good. Now hide the box beneath your cloak and drop it not, for if so
that which is within will call aloud after you, and they will kill you
for a sorceress. Unless my word come to you, lay the figure in Pharaoh's
bed to-morrow evening, and at the hour of moonrise hold its limbs in
the flame in your own chamber, and hide it away, and afterwards bring it
back to me that I may enchant it af