they must clear up a question of murder, and he
commanded the nomarch in the name of the pharaoh-to go with him to
Sarah's dwelling. It was not far to the garden of the heir, and the two
dignitaries soon found themselves at the place where the crime had been
committed.

When they entered the chamber on the first story, they saw Sarah
kneeling at the cradle in such a posture as if nursing the child. On
the wall and the pavement were blood spots.

The nomarch grew so weak that he was forced to sit down, but Mefres was
calm. He approached Sarah, touched her arm, and said,

"We come hither, lady, in the name of his holiness."

Sarah sprang to her feet suddenly, and, looking at Mefres, cried in a
terrible voice,

"A curse on you! Ye wished to have a Jew king, and here is the king for
you. Oh, why did I, unfortunate, listen to your traitorous advice!"

She dropped, and fell again at the side of the cradle, groaning,

"My son my little Seti! How beautiful he was, so cunning; just
stretching out his little hands to me! O Jehovah! give him back to me,
for that is in Thy power. O gods of Egypt, Osiris, Horus, Isis, O Isis,
for Thou too wert a mother! It cannot be that in the heavens there is
not one who will listen to my prayer. Such a dear, little child! A
hyena would have spared him."

The high priest took her by the arms, and put her on her feet. The
police and the servants filled the room.

"Sarah," said the high priest, "in the name of his holiness, the lord
of Egypt, I summon thee, and command thee to answer, Who killed thy
son?"

She gazed straight ahead, like a maniac, and rubbed her forehead.

The nomarch gave her water and wine, and one of the women present
sprinkled her with vinegar.

"In the name of his holiness," repeated Mefres, "I command thee, Sarah,
to tell the name of the murderer."

Those present withdrew toward the door; the nomarch with despairing
action closed both his ears.

"Who killed?" said Sarah, in a panting voice, sinking her gaze in the
face of Mefres. "Who killed, dost Thou ask? I know you, ye priests! I
know your justice."

"Then who killed?" insisted Mefres.

"I!" cried Sarah, in an unearthly voice. "I killed my child, because ye
made him a Jew."

"That is false!" hissed the high priest.

"I, I!" repeated Sarah. "Hei, Ye people who see me and hear me," she
turned to the witnesses, "ye know that I killed him I I I!" cried she,
beating her breast.

At such an explicit accus