o swell and
curve. This was enough for me and I said hastily:

"If you mean the night of the Coronation, I do recall----"

"Ah! I thought you would. You, learned Ana, who like all scribes observe
so closely, will have noted how little things--such as the scent of a
flower, or the passing of a bird, or even the writhing of a snake in the
dust--often bring back to the mind events or words it has forgotten long
ago."

"Well--what of our meeting?" I broke in hastily.

"Nothing at all--or only this. Just before it you were talking with the
Hebrew Jabez, the lady Merapi's uncle, were you not?"

"Yes, I was talking with him in an open place, alone."

"Not so, learned Scribe, for you know we are never alone--quite. Could
you but see it, every grain of sand has an ear."

"Be pleased to explain, O Ki."

"Nay, Ana, it would be too long, and short jests are ever the best. As I
have told you, you were not alone, for though there were some words that
I did not catch, _I_ heard much of what passed between you and Jabez."

"What did you hear?" I asked wrathfully, and next instant wished that I
had bitten through my tongue before it shaped the words.

"Much, much. Let me think. You spoke about the lady Merapi, and whether
she would do well to bide at Memphis in the shadow of the Prince, or to
return to Goshen into the shadow of a certain--I forget the name. Jabez,
a well-instructed man, said he thought that she might be happier at
Memphis, though perhaps her presence there would bring a great sorrow
upon herself and--another."

Here again he looked at the child, which seemed to feel his glance, for
it woke up and beat the air with its little hands.

The nurse felt it also, although her head was turned away, for she
started and then took shelter behind the bole of one of the palm-trees.
Now Merapi said in a low and shaken voice:

"I know what you mean, Magician, for since then I have seen my uncle
Jabez."

"As I have also, several times, Lady, which may explain to you what Ana
here thinks so wonderful, namely that I should have learned what they
said together when he thought they were alone, which, as I have told
him, no one can ever be, at least in Egypt, the land of listening
gods----"

"And spying sorcerers," I exclaimed.

"----And spying sorcerers," he repeated after me, "and scribes who take
notes, and learn them by heart, and priests with ears as large as asses,
and leaves that whisper--and many other things."