Kenkenes shook his head.

"Ah, theirs is pristine oratory--occult eloquence," the scribe said
earnestly, "and she is mistress of the art. She told the history of
Israel and catalogued its wrongs in a manner that lacked only measure and
music to make it a song. But, Kenkenes, she did not move us to
compunction and pity. When she had done, we had not looked on a picture
of suffering and oppression, but of insulted pride and rebellion.
Instead of compunction, she awakened admiration, instead of pity,
respect. For the moment she represented, not a multitude of complaining
slaves, but a race of indignant peers.

"Meneptah--ah! the good king," the scribe went on, "was impressed like
the rest of us. But finally he showed her that the Israelites were what
they were by the consent of the gods; that their unwillingness but
increased the burden. He pointed out the example of his illustrious
sires as justification for his course; enumerated some of their
privileges,--the fertile country given them by Egypt, and the freedom
that was theirs to worship their own God,--and summarily refused to
indulge them further.

"Then she became ominous. She bade him have a care for the welfare of
Egypt before he refused her. Her words were dark and full of evil
portent. The air seemed to winnow with bat-wings and to reek with vapors
from witch-potions and murmur with mystic formulas. Every man of us
crept, and drew near to his neighbor. When she paused for an answer, the
king hesitated. She had menaced Egypt and it stirreth the heart of the
father when the child is threatened. He turned to Har-hat in his
perplexity and craved his counsel. The fan-bearer laughed good-naturedly
and begged the Pharaoh's permission to send her to the mines before she
bewitched his cattle and troubled him with visions. Har-hat's unconcern
made men of us all once more, but Meneptah shook his head. 'The name of
Neferari Thermuthis defends her,' he said; 'let her go hence'."

"'And I take no amelioration to my people?' she demanded. 'Nay,' he
replied, 'not in the smallest part shall their labor be lessened.'

"Holy Isis, thou shouldst have seen her then, Kenkenes!

"She approached the very dais of the throne and, throwing up her arms,
flung her defiance into the face of her sovereign. It were treason to
utter her words again. I have seen men white and shaking from rage, but
Meneptah never hath so much of temper to display. Far be it from me to