e visited last night."

"What!" exclaimed Pharaoh, laughing. "That long-legged old astrologer
with the painted cap who ran so fast when his master was taken? Why! he
is nothing but a spy who has been in my pay for years; a charlatan who
pretends to knowledge that he may win the secrets of his Prince. And
Merytra, too, Merytra, who in bygone times warned me of this Abi's
foolish plot. Asti, you are high-born and wise, one whom I love, and
honour much, as does the Queen, my daughter, but you can still be
jealous, as I have noted long. Asti, be not deceived, it was jealousy of
Merytra that whispered in your ears, not the spirit of the divine
Ahura. Now go and take your terrors with you, for this dark conspirator,
Merytra, waits in my chamber to unrobe me, and talk me to sleep with her
pleasant jests and gossip."

"Pharaoh has spoken, I go," said Asti in her quiet voice. "May Pharaoh's
rest be sweet, and his awaking happy."

That night Tua could not sleep. Whenever she shut her eyes visions rose
before her mind, terrifying, fantastic visions in all of which the
fat and hideous Abi played a part. Thus she saw again the scene at her
father's fatal feast to the Priest of Kesh, when Asti by her magic had
caused the likeness of a monkey to come from the juggler's vase. Only
now it was Abi who emerged from the vase, a terrible Abi, with a red
sword in his hand, and Pharaoh's crown upon his head. He leapt from the
mouth of the vase, he devoured her with his greedy eyes, with stealthy
steps he came to seize her, and she could not stir an inch, something
held her fast upon her throne.

She could bear it no more--she opened her eyes, stared at the darkness,
and out of the darkness came voices, telling of death and war. She
thrust her fingers into her ears, and tried to fix her thoughts on
Rames, that bright-eyed, light-footed lover of hers, whom she so longed
to see again, without whom she was so lonely and undefended.

"Where was Rames?" she wondered. "What fate had overtaken him? Something in
her seemed to answer--Death. Oh! if Rames were dead, what should she do?
Of what use was it to be Queen of Egypt, the first woman in the world,
if Rames were dead?"

Loneliness, insufferable loneliness seemed to get a hold of her. She
slipped from her bed, and through the doorway of her little pylon
chamber. Now she was upon the narrow stair, and in face of her was that
other chamber where Asti slept. Someone was talking with her! Pe