weariness
as it journeyed swiftly back to Tanis. But Rei sped forward on foot, and
came to the gates of Tanis, sorely wearied, towards the evening of that
day. When he heard the wailing of the women, he asked of a passer-by
what new evil had fallen upon Khem, and learned the death of Pharaoh.
Then Rei knew by whose hand Pharaoh was dead, and grieved at heart,
because she whom he had served and loved--Meriamun the moon-child--was a
murderess. At first he was minded to go up before the Queen and put
her to an open shame, and then take his death at her hands; but when he
heard that Meriamun had summoned all the women of Tanis to meet her in
the Temple of Osiris, he had another thought. Hurrying to that place
where he hid in the city, he ate and drank. Then he put off his beggar's
rags, and robed himself afresh, and over all drew the garment of an aged
crone, for this was told him, that no man should be suffered to enter
the Temple. Now the day was dying, and already the western sky was red,
and he hurried forth and mingled with the stream of women who passed
towards the Temple gates.

"Who then slew Pharaoh?" asked one; "and why does the Queen summon us to
meet her?"

"Pharaoh is slain by the witchcraft of the False Hathor," answered
another; "and the Queen summons us that we may take counsel how to be
rid of the Hathor."

"Tell not of the accursed Hathor," said a third; "my husband and my
brother are dead at her hands, and my son died in the death of the
first-born that she called down on Khem. Ah, if I could but see her rent
limb from limb I should seek Osiris happily."

"Some there be," quoth a fourth, "who say that not the Hathor, but the
Gods of those Apura brought the woes on Khem, and some that Pharaoh was
slain by the Queen's own hand, because of the love she bears to that
great Wanderer who came here a while ago."

"Thou fool," answered the first; "how can the Queen love one who would
have wrought outrage on her?"

"Such things have been," said the fourth woman; "perchance he wrought no
outrage, perchance she beguiled him as women may. Yes, yes, such things
have been. I am old, and I have seen such things."

"Yea, thou art old," said the first. "Thou hast no child, no husband,
no father, no lover, and no brother. Thou hast lost none who are dear to
thee through the magic of the Hathor. Speak one more such slander on
the Queen, and we will fall upon thee and tear thy lying tongue from its
roots."

"Hush,