f there be justice in earth or
heaven, O most noble among women."

"Would that I could think so! Hush, I hear steps. Drink this; I am the
chief of your nurses, Scribe Ana, an honourable post, since to-day all
Egypt loves and praises you."

"Surely it is you, lady Merapi, whom all Egypt should love and praise,"
I answered.

Then the Prince Seti entered. I strove to salute him by lifting my less
injured arm, but he caught my hand and pressed it tenderly.

"Hail to you, beloved of Menthu, god of war," he said, with his pleasant
laugh. "I thought I had hired a scribe, and lo! in this scribe I find a
soldier who might be an army's boast."

At this moment he caught sight of Merapi, who had moved back into the
shadow.

"Hail to you also, Moon of Israel," he said bowing. "If I name Ana here
a warrior of the best, what name can both of us find for you to whom we
owe our lives? Nay, look not down, but answer."

"Prince of Egypt," she replied confusedly, "I did but little. The plot
came to my ears through Jabez my uncle, and I fled away and, knowing
the short paths from childhood, was just in time. Had I stayed to think
perchance I should not have dared."

"And what of the rest, Lady? What of the Hebrew who was choking me and
of a certain sword thrust that loosed his hands for ever?"

"Of that, your Highness, I can recall nothing, or very little," then,
doubtless remembering what she had just said to me, she made obeisance
and passed from the chamber.

"She can tell falsehoods as sweetly as she does all else," said Seti,
when he had watched her go. "Oh! what a woman have we here, Ana. Perfect
in beauty, perfect in courage, perfect in mind. Where are her faults, I
wonder? Let it be your part to search them out, since I find none."

"Ask them of Ki, O Prince. He is a very great magician, so great that
perhaps his art may even avail to discover what a woman seeks to hide.
Also you may remember that he gave you certain warnings before we
journeyed to Goshen."

"Yes--he told me that my life would be in danger, as certainly it was.
There he was right. He told me also that I should see a woman whom I
should come to love. There he was wrong. I have seen no such woman. Oh!
I know well what is passing in your mind. Because I hold the lady Merapi
to be beautiful and brave, you think that I love her. But it is not so.
I love no woman, except, of course, her Highness. Ana, you judge me by
yourself."

"Ki said 'come to love,' P