ns throw their insolence in my teeth and name
me their sister? Not so, for if my eyes be blind yet my ears are open.
Peace, she is rightly served--choose thou a lowlier mistress!'

"And Pharaoh made no answer, for he feared her with an ever-growing
fear. But she, sinking back in her seat of state, played with the gold
kepher on her breast, and watched them bear the body forth to the House
of Osiris. One by one all the company made obeisance and passed thence,
glad to be gone, till at the last there were left only Pharaoh and
Meriamun the Queen, and myself--Rei the Priest--for all were much
afraid. Then Pharaoh spoke, looking neither at her nor at me, and half
in fear, half in anger.

"'Thou hateful woman, accursed be the day when first I looked upon thy
beauty. Thou hast conquered me, but beware, for I am still Pharaoh and
thy Lord. Cross my purpose once again, and, by Him who sleeps at Philae,
I will discrown thee and give thy body to the tormentors, and set thy
soul loose to follow her whom thou hast slain.'

"Then Meriamun answered proudly:

"'Pharaoh, be warned: lift but one finger against my majesty and thou
art doomed. Thou canst not slay me, but I can over-match thee, and I
swear by the same oath! By Him who sleeps at Philae, lift a hand against
me, ay, harbour one thought of treachery, and thou diest. Not lightly
can I be deceived, for I have messengers that thou canst not hear.
Something, Royal Meneptah, do I know of the magic of that Queen Taia who
was before me. Now listen--do this one thing and all shall be well.
Go on thy path and leave me to follow mine. Queen I am, Queen I will
remain, and in all matters of the State mine must be an equal voice
though it is thine that speaks. And, for the rest, we are apart
henceforth, for thou fearest me, and Meneptah, I love not thee, nor any
man.'

"'As thou hast spoken, so be it,' quoth Pharaoh, for his heart sank, and
his fear came back upon him. 'Evil was the day when first we met, and
this is the price of my desire. Henceforth we are apart in bed and
board, but in the council we are still one, for our ends are one. I know
thy power, Meriamun, thou gifted of the evil Gods; thou needest not fear
that I shall seek to slay thee, for a spear cast against the heavens
returns on him who threw it. Rei, my servant, thou art witness to our
oaths; hear now their undoing. Meriamun, the Queen of ancient Khem, thou
art no more wife of mine. Farewell.'

"And he went heavil