ave through you, his friend and counsellor," she went on, turning
away her face. "Jabez has learned that it is in the mind of Pharaoh
utterly to destroy the people of Israel."

"How does he know that, Merapi?"

"I cannot say, but I think all the Hebrews know. I knew it myself though
none had told me. He has learned also that this cannot be done under the
law of Egypt unless the Prince who is heir to the throne and of full age
consents. Now I am come to pray you to pray the Prince not to consent."

"Why not pray to the Prince yourself, Merapi----" I began, when from
the shadows behind me I heard the voice of Seti, who had entered by the
private door bearing some writings in his hand, saying:

"And what prayer has the lady Merapi to make to me? Nay, rise and speak,
Moon of Israel."

"O Prince," she pleaded, "my prayer is that you will save the Hebrews
from death by the sword, as you alone have the power to do."

At this moment the doors opened and in swept the royal Userti.

"What does this woman here?" she asked.

"I think that she came to see Ana, wife, as I did, and as doubtless you
do. Also being here she prays me to save her people from the sword."

"And I pray you, husband, to give her people to the sword, which they
have earned, who would have murdered you."

"And been paid, everyone of them, Userti, unless some still linger
beneath the rods," he added with a shudder. "The rest are innocent--why
should they die?"

"Because your throne hangs upon it, Seti. I say that if you continue to
thwart the will of Pharaoh, as by the law of Egypt you can do, he will
disinherit you and set your cousin Amenmeses in your place, as by the
law of Egypt he can do."

"I thought it, Userti. Yet why should I turn my back upon the right over
a matter of my private fortunes? The question is--is it the right?"

She stared at him in amazement, she who never understood Seti and could
not dream that he would throw away the greatest throne in all the world
to save a subject people, merely because he thought that they should
not die. Still, warned by some instinct, she left the first question
unanswered, dealing only with the second.

"It is the right," she said, "for many reasons whereof I need give but
one, for in it lie all the others. The gods of Egypt are the true gods
whom we must serve and obey, or perish here and hereafter. The god of
the Israelites is a false god and those who worship him are heretics and
by their here