to drink, and gave her healing water. Still, fever did not leave the
woman, and the bronze-colored spots on her cheeks and brows grew more
definite. Therefore an order came from the nomarch to take her out to
the eastern desert, where, separated from mankind, dwelt a colony of
lepers.

On a certain evening the chief appeared at the temple of Ptah, saying
that he wished to speak with the high priest. The chief had with him
two agents, and a man covered from head to foot in a bag.

After a while an answer was sent to the chief that the high priests
were awaiting him in the sacred chamber of the statue of their
divinity.

The chief left the agents before the gate, took by the arm the man
dressed in the bag, and, conducted by a priest, went to the sacred
chamber. When he entered, he found Mefres and Sem arrayed as high
priests, with silver plates on their bosoms.

He fell before them on the pavement, and said,

"In accordance with your commands, I bring to you, holy fathers, the
criminal Lykon. Do ye wish to see his face?"

When they assented, the chief rose, and pulled the bag from the man
standing near him.

Both high priests cried out with astonishment. The Greek was really so
like Ramses that it was impossible to resist the deception.

"Thou art Lykon, the singer from the temple of Astaroth?" asked the
holy Sem of the bound Greek.

Lykon smiled contemptuously.

"And didst Thou kill the child of the prince?" added Mefres.

The Greek grew blue from rage, and strove to tear off his bonds.

"Yes!" cried he, "I killed the whelp, for I could not find the wolf,
his father, may heaven's blazes burn him!"

"In what has the prince offended thee, criminal?" asked the indignant
Sem.

"In what? He seized from me Kama, and plunged her into a disease for
which there is no remedy. I was free, I might have fled with life and
property, but I resolved to avenge myself, and now ye have me. It was
his luck that your gods are mightier than my hatred. Now ye may kill
me; the sooner ye do so, the better."

"This is a great criminal," said Sem.

Mefres was silent and gazed into the Greek's eyes, which were burning
with rage. He admired his courage, and fell to thinking. All at once he
said to the chief,

"Worthy sir, Thou mayst go, this man belongs to us."

"This man," replied the chief, who was indignant, "belongs to me. I
seized him and I shall receive a reward from Prince Ramses."

Mefres rose and drew forth from und