, my brother?" he
cried, rending at his robes. "Is it for this that I spared you years ago
in Thebes, when your life was forfeit for your treachery? Is it for
this that I have suffered you to rise to great honour, and to rule here
almost as a king in my city of Memphis? Was it not enough that I should
sit quiet, while you, an old man, the son of our father's barbarian
slave, the loose-living despot, dare to ask for the pure hand of Egypt's
Queen in marriage, you, her uncle, who might well be her grandfather
also? Must I also hear your foul mouth beslime her royal birth, and
the honour of her divine mother, and spit sneers at Amen, Father of the
gods? Well, Amen shall deal with you when you come to the doors of his
Eternal House, but here on earth I am his son and servant. Mermes, call
my guards, and arrest this man and hold him safe. At Thebes, whither we
depart to-morrow, he shall be judged according to our law."

Now Mermes blew a shrill call on the silver whistle that hung about his
neck, and, springing forward, seized the Prince by the arm. Abi drew his
sword to cut him down, and at the sight of the blade, all who were
with him rushed to the door to escape, sweeping before them certain of
Pharaoh's ladies, among them the waiting-woman, Merytra. But before ever
they could pass it, the guards who had heard the signal of Mermes, ran
in with lifted spears, driving them back again. Leaping upon Abi, they
tore the sword from his hand, and threw him to the ground, huddling the
rest together like frightened sheep.

"Bind this traitor and keep him safe, for to-morrow he accompanies us to
Thebes," said Pharaoh.

"What of his sons, and those with him, your Majesty?" asked the officer
of the guard.

"Let them go," answered Pharaoh wearily, "for they have not sinned
against us. Let them go, and take warning from their master's fate."

Now, as it chanced in the confusion, Merytra had been pushed against
Kaku.

"Hearken," whispered the astrologer into the woman's ear. "Do as I bid
you last night, and all will yet be well. Do it or die. Do you hear me?"

"I hear, and I will obey," answered Merytra in the same low voice.

Then they were separated, for the guards took Kaku by the arm and thrust
him out of the temple together with the sons of Abi.

An hour later Mermes and Asti stood before Pharaoh, and prayed him that
he would depart from Memphis that very night, saying that such was the
counsel also of the Queen and of his