"It would seem that yours is no gentle god," said the Prince to Kohath,
when at length we were outside the temple.

"At least he is just, your Highness. Had it been otherwise, you who had
violated his sanctuary, although by chance, would ere now be dead."

"Then you hold, Priest, that Jahveh has power to slay us when he is
angry?"

"Without a doubt, your Highness--as, if our Prophets speak truth, I
think that Egypt will learn ere all be done," he added grimly.

Seti looked at him and answered:

"It may be so, but all gods, or their priests, claim the power to
torment and slay those who worship other gods. It is not only women who
are jealous, Kohath, or so it seems. Yet I think that you do your god
injustice, seeing that even if this strength is his, he proved more
merciful than his worshippers who knew well that I only grasped the veil
to save myself from falling. If ever I visit your temple again it shall
be in the company of those who can match might against might, whether of
the spirit or the sword. Farewell."

So we reached the chariot, near to which stood Jabez, he who had saved
us.

"Prince," he whispered, glancing at the crowd who lingered not far away,
silent and glowering, "I pray you leave this land swiftly for here your
life is not safe. I know it was by chance, but you have defiled the
sanctuary and seen that upon which eyes may not look save those of the
highest priests, an offence no Israelite can forgive."

"And you, or your people, Jabez, would have defiled this sanctuary of
my life, spilling my heart's blood and _not_ by chance. Surely you are
a strange folk who seek to make an enemy of one who has tried to be your
friend."

"I do not seek it," exclaimed Jabez. "I would that we might have
Pharaoh's mouth and ear who soon will himself be Pharaoh upon our side.
O Prince of Egypt, be not wroth with all the children of Israel because
their wrongs have made some few of them stubborn and hard-hearted.
Begone now, and of your goodness remember my words."

"I will remember," said Seti, signing to the charioteer to drive on.

Yet still the Prince lingered in the town, saying that he feared nothing
and would learn all he could of this people and their ways that he might
report the better of them to Pharaoh. For my part I believed that there
was one face which he wished to see again before he left, but of this I
thought it wise to say nothing.

At length about midday we did depart, and drove eas