oyal lady that draws near?" she asked of Rei.

"It is Meriamun the Queen; she whom the Wanderer hath brought to shame."

"Stay then, I would speak with her."

"Nay, nay," cried Rei. "She loves thee not, Lady, and will slay thee."

"That cannot be," Helen answered.

II

THE COMING OF PHARAOH

Presently, as she walked, Meriamun saw Rei the Priest and the veiled
woman at his side, and she saw on the woman's breast a red jewel that
burnt and glowed like a heart of fire. Then like fire burned the heart
of Meriamun, for she knew that this was Argive Helen who stood before
her, Helen whose shape she had stolen like a thief and with the mind of
a thief.

"Say," she cried to Rei, who bowed before her, "say, who is this woman?"

Rei looked at the Queen with terrified eyes, and spake in a voice of
warning.

"This is that Goddess who dwells in the Temple of Hathor," he said. "Let
her pass in peace, O Queen."

"In peace she shall pass indeed," answered Meriamun. "What saidest
thou, old dotard? That Goddess! Nay, no Goddess have we here, but an
evil-working witch, who hath brought woes unnumbered upon Khem. Because
of her, men die month by month till the vaults of the Temple of Hathor
are full of her slain. Because of her it was that curse upon curse fell
on the land--the curse of water turned to blood, of hail and of terrible
darkness, ay, and the curse of the death of the firstborn among whom my
own son died. And thou hast dared, Rei, to bring this witch here to my
Palace halls! By Amen if I had not loved thee always thy life should
pay the price. And thou," and she stretched her hand towards the Helen,
"thou hast dared to come. It is well, no more shalt thou bring evil upon
Khem. Hearken, slave," and she turned to Kurri the Sidonian; "draw that
knife of thine and plunge it to the hilt in the breast of yonder woman.
So shalt thou win freedom and all thy goods shall be given thee again."

Then for the first time Helen spake:

"I charge thee, Lady," she said in slow soft tones, "bid not thy servant
do this deed, for though I have little will to bring evil upon men, yet
I may not lightly be affronted."

Now Kurri hung back doubtfully fingering his dagger.

"Draw, knave, draw!" cried Meriamun, "and do my bidding, or presently
thou shalt be slain with this same knife."

When the Sidonian heard these words he cried aloud with fear, for he
well knew that as the Queen said so it would be done to him. Instantly
he dr