guessing that he was being played with, Abi grew angry.

"I have put a plain question to your Majesty," he said, "and perhaps I
am worthy of a plain answer. As all men know, O Queen, it is time that
you should be wed, and I offer myself as your husband. It is true that I
am somewhat older than you are----"

"In what year was the Prince Abi born, the same as yourself, did you
say?" asked Tua in an audible aside of the aged and learned Councillor,
who thereon vanished behind the throne, and was seen no more.

"But," went on Abi, taking no notice of this interruption, "on the other
hand I have much to offer. I rule here, your Majesties, who am also of
the royal blood, and there is some disaffection in the North, especially
among the great Bedouin tribes of the Desert who watch the frontier of
the Kingdom. Now if this alliance comes about, and in days to be I sit
upon the double throne as King-Consort of Egypt, they will be loyal, and
north and south will be united more closely than they ever were before.
Whereas if it does not come about----" Here Kaku, pretending to brush a
fly from his face, caught his hand in Abi's robe, a signal at which his
master paused.

"Go on, my Uncle, I pray you," said Tua. "If it does not come about,
what then?"

"Then, Queen, there may be trouble. Nay, leave me alone, Magician, I
will speak the truth, chance what may. Pharaoh, you have reigned for
many years; yes, forty times has the Nile overflowed its banks since we
laid our divine father in the tomb. Now, during all those years but one
child has been born to you, and that after I came to Thebes to pray you
to name me as your heir. Know, Pharaoh, that there are many who find
this strange, and wonder whether this beautiful queen, who is called
Daughter of Amen, and resembles you so little in body or in mind, sits
rightfully on the throne of Egypt. If I marry her these questionings
will cease. If I do not marry her the whisperings of men may grow to a
wind that will blow the crown from off her head."

Now a grasp of fear and wonder rose from all who heard this bold and
treasonable speech, and Tua, reddening to the eyes, bent forward as
though to answer. But before ever a word had passed her lips Pharaoh
sprang from his seat transformed with rage. All his patient gentleness
was gone, and he looked so fierce and royal that everyone present there,
even Abi himself, quailed before him.

"Is it for this that I have borne with you for so long