ptah,
for one, and a few other comely lords of Egypt."

"What hast thou done in thy life?" she cried. "I am no more wicked
than thou; thou hast found delight in others beside whom I am all
innocence."

"It may be. Who knows but there is somewhat of the vulture-nostril in
man, tickled with a vague taint? But, even then, the sense is
fleeting, more or less as the natures of men vary. A man hath his
better moments, and how shall they be entirely pure in the presence of
shame? Nay, I would not mate and live for ever with mine own sins."

"Then as thou dost permit her spotlessness to cover her hate, let my
love for thee hide my sins. From the first I have loved thee unasked.
She is all unwon."

"Thou hast said it. She is unwon. But doth the lion prey upon the
carcass? Nay. His kill must be fresh and slain by his own might.
Thou didst stultify thyself by thine instant acquiescence. Come, let
us make an end to this. The more said the more thou shalt have of
which to accuse thyself hereafter."

But she dropped before him, her white robes cumbering his path, her
arms clasping his knees.

"What more have I to do of which to accuse myself, O Rameses? Egypt
knows why I came to court. Egypt will know why I shall leave it. What
have I not offered and what hast thou given me? Where shall I find
that refuge from the pitying smile of the nation? Spare my womanhood--"

"Ah, fie upon thy pretense, Ta-user! Art thou not shrewd enough to
know how well I understand thee? Thou dost not love me. No woman who
loves pleads beyond the first rebuff. Love is full of dudgeon. Thou
dost betray thyself in thy very insistence. Thou beggest for the crown
I shall wear, and if I were over-thrown to-morrow thou wouldst kneel
likewise to mine enemy. Thou hast no womanhood to lose in Egypt's
sight. As thy caprice turned from Siptah to me, let it return thee to
Siptah once again. And if thy heart doth in truth wince with jealousy,
think on Io."

He undid her arms, flung her from him and disappeared into the dark.

CHAPTER XXVI

FURTHER DIPLOMACY

Masanath, suffocating with wrath and rebellion and overpowered with an
exaggerated appreciation of her shame, tumbled down in the shadows of
the narrow passage and wrapped her mantle around her head.

When she had wept till the creamy linen over her small face was wet and
her throat hurt under the strain of angry sobs, and until she was sure
that Rameses was gone, she p