ill not set thee free,
Masanath, if thou didst convict me a monster in mine own eyes. If thou
art good thou wilt love me or do thy duty by me. If thou art base, I
have wedded mine own deserts."

He took the hand she had withdrawn and prepared to go on, but she
interposed.

"Not yet have I asked my boon."

"I am no longer in debt to thy father."

"I ask no favor for my father at thy hands. Rather am I come to crave a
boon for myself."

"Speak."

"My father asked an Israelite maiden at the hands of the Pharaoh a year
agone, and she was beloved by my friend and thine. She fled from my
father and was hidden by the man she loved--"

"Aye, I know the story. Hotep brought it to mine ears months ago. The
man was Kenkenes, and thy father overtook him and threw him into prison
in Tape. What more?"

"The gods keep me in my love for thee, O my father! for thou dost strain
it most heavily," Masanath thought. After an unhappy silence she went on.

"Thou hast given me news. I know little of the tale save that the day
the darkness fell Kenkenes met his love on the eastern shore of the Nile
opposite Memphis, and there my father's servants came upon them and
fought with him for the possession of the Israelite. The Israelite is
gone, and my father's servants are still seeking for her, and I would not
have her taken."

"Thou art a queen. What is she, a slave, to thee?"

"A sister, my comforter, my one friend!"

"Thou canst find sisters and comforters and friends among high-born women
of Egypt. I had laid Kenkenes' folly concerning this Israelite to the
moonshine genius in him. But the slave is a sorceress, for the madness
touches whosoever looks upon her. Behold her worshipers--first, thy
father, Kenkenes, Hotep and thyself, and the gods know whom else. She
would better be curbed before she bewitches Egypt."

"It is her goodness and her grace that win, Rameses. If that be sorcery,
let it prevail the world over. Give her freedom and save her
spotlessness."

"Har-hat shall not take her, I promise thee. I shall send her back to
her place in the brick-fields."

Masanath recoiled in horror. "To the brick-fields!" she cried. "Rachel
to the brick-fields!"

"I have said. Her Israelitish spotlessness will be secure there, and the
reduction of her charms will be the saving of Kenkenes."

"Alas! what have I done?" she cried. "I am as fit for the brick-fields
as Rachel. O, if thou but knew her, Rameses!"