Thatnighttherewerenonewhorejoicedinthestreetsofthecity，andsaveinthepalaceandhousesofthoseoftheCourt，nonewhofeasted。Iwalkedabroadinthemarket-placeandnotedthepeoplegoingtoandfrogloomily，ortalkingtogetherinwhispers。Presentlyamanwhosefacewashiddeninahoodbegantospeakwithme，sayingthathehadamessageformymaster，thePrinceSeti。IansweredthatItooknomessagesfromveiledstrangers，whereonhethrewbackhishood，andIsawthatitwasJabez，theuncleofMerapi。IaskedhimwhetherhehadobeyedthePrince，andbornethebodyofthatprophetbacktoGoshenandtoldtheeldersofthemanneroftheman’sdeath。
　　“Yes，“heanswered，“norweretheEldersangrywiththePrinceoverthismatter。Theysaidthattheirmessengerhadexceededhisauthority，sincetheyhadnevertoldhimtocurseMerapi，andmuchlessattempttokillher，andthatthePrincedidrighttoslayonewhowouldhavedonemurderbeforehisroyaleyes。Stilltheyaddedthatthecurse，havingoncebeenspokenbythispriest，wouldsurelyfalluponMerapiinthiswayorinthat。“
　　“Whatthenshouldshedo，Jabez？“
　　“Idonotknow，Scribe。Ifshereturnstoherpeople，perchanceshewillbeabsolved，butthenshemustsurelymarryLaban。Itisforhertojudge。“
　　“Andwhatwouldyoudoifyouwereinherplace，Jabez？“
　　“IthinkthatIshouldstaywhereIwas，andmakemyselfverydeartoSeti，takingthechancethatthecursemaypassherby，sinceitwasnotlawfullydecreeduponher。Whicheverwayshelooks，troublewaits，andattheworst，awomanmightwishtosatisfyherheartbeforeitfalls，especiallyifthatheartshouldhappentoturntoonewhowillbePharaoh。“
　　“Whydoyousay’whowillbePharaoh，’Jabez？“Iasked，forwewerestandinginanemptyplacealone。
　　“ThatImaynottellyou，“herepliedcunningly，“yetitwillcomeaboutasIsay。HewhositsuponthethroneismadasMeneptahwasmad，andwillfightagainstastrengththatisgreaterthanhisuntilitoverwhelmshim。InthePrince’sheartalonedoesthelightofwisdomshine。Thatwhichyousawto-dayisonlythefirstofmanymiracles，ScribeAna。Icansaynomore。“
　　“Whatthenisyourmessage，Jabez？“
　　“This：BecausethePrincehasstriventodealwellwiththepeopleofIsraelandfortheirsakehascastasideacrown，whatevermaychancetoothers，lethimfearnothing。Noharmshallcometohim，ortothoseabouthim，suchasyourself，ScribeAna，whoalsowoulddealjustlybyus。YetitmayhappenthatthroughmynieceMerapi，onwhoseheadtheevilwordhasfallen，agreatsorrowmaycometobothhimandher。Therefore，perhaps，althoughsettingthisagainstthat，shemaybewisetostayinthehouseofSeti，he，onthebalance，maybewisetoturnherfromhisdoors。“
　　“Whatsorrow？“Iasked，whogrewbewilderedwithhisdarktalk，buttherewasnoanswer，forhehadgone。
　　Neartomylodginganothermanmetme，andthemoonlightshiningonhisfaceshowedmetheterribleeyesofKi。
　　“ScribeAna，“hesaid，“youleaveforMemphisto-morrowatthedawn，andnottwodayshenceasyoupurposed。“
　　“Howdoyouknowthat，MagicianKi？“Ianswered，forIhadtoldmychangeofplantonone，noteventoBakenkhonsu，havingindeedonlydetermineduponitsinceJabezleftme。
　　“Iknownothing，Ana，savethatafaithfulservantwhohaslearnedallyouhavelearnedto-daywillhurrytomakereportofittohismaster，especiallyifthereissomeothertowhomhewouldalsowishtomakereport，asBakenkhonsuthinks。“
　　“Bakenkhonsutalkstoomuch，whateverhemaythink，“Iexclaimedtestily。
　　“Theagedgrowgarrulous。Youwereatthecrowningto-day，wereyounot？“
　　“Yes，andifIsawarightfromfaraway，thoseHebrewprophetsseemedtoworstyouatyourowntradethere，Kherheb，whichmustgrieveyou，asyouweregrievedinthetemplewhenAmonfell。“
　　“Itdoesnotgrieveme，Ana。IfIhavepowers，theremaybeotherswhohavegreaterpowers，asIlearnedinthetempleofAmon。WhythereforeshouldIfeelashamed？“
　　“Powers!“Irepliedwithalaugh，forthestringsofmymindseemedtornthatnight，“wouldnotcraftbeabetterword？Howdoyouturnastickintoasnake，athingwhichisimpossibletoman？“
　　“Craftmightbeabetterword，sincecraftmeansknowledgeaswellastrickery。’Impossibletoman!’AfterwhatyousawawhileagointhetempleofAmon，doyouholdthatthereisanythingimpossibletomanorwoman？Perhapsyoucoulddoasmuchyourself。“
　　“Whydoyoumockme，Ki？Istudybooks，notsnake-charming。“
　　Helookedatmeinhiscalmfashion，asthoughhewerereading，notmyface，butthethoughtsbehindit。Thenhelookedatthecedarwandinhishandandgaveittome，saying：
　　“Studythis，Ana，andtellme，whatisit。“
　　“AmIachild，“Iansweredangrily，“thatIshouldnotknowapriest’srodwhenIseeone？“
　　“Ithinkthatyouaresomethingofachild，Ana，“hemurmured，allthewhilekeepingthoseeyesofhisfixeduponmyface。
　　Thenahorrorcameabout。FortherodbegantotwistinmyhandandwhenIstaredatit，lo!itwasalong，yellowsnakewhichIheldbythetail。Ithrewthereptiledownwithascream，foritwasturningitsheadasthoughtostrikeme，andthereinthedustittwistedandwrithedawayfrommeandtowardsKi。Yetaninstantlateritwasonlyastickofyellowcedar-wood，thoughbetweenmeandKitherewasasnake’strackinthesand。
　　“Itissomewhatshamelessofyou，Ana，“saidKi，asheliftedthewand，“toreproachmewithtrickerywhileyouyourselftrytoconfoundapoorjugglerwithsuchartsasthese。“
　　ThenIknownotwhatIsaidtohim，savetheendofitwasthatI
　　supposedhewouldtellmenextthatIcouldfillahallwithdarknessatnoondayandcoveramultitudewithterror。
　　“Letushavedonewithjests，“hesaid，“thoughthesearewellenoughintheirplace。Willyoutakethisrodagainandpointittothemoon？
　　Yourefuseandyoudowell，forneitheryounorIcancoverupherface。Ana，becauseyouarewiseinyourwayandconsortwithonewhoiswiser，andwerepresentinthetemplewhenthestatueofAmonwasshatteredbyacertainwitchwhomatchedherstrengthagainstmineandconqueredme，I，thegreatmagician，havecometoask/you/——whencecamethatdarknessinthehallto-day？“
　　“FromGod，Ithink，“Iansweredinanawedwhisper。
　　“SoIthinkalso，Ana。Buttellme，oraskMerapi，MoonofIsrael，totellme——fromwhatgod？Oh!IsaytoyouthataterriblepowerisafootinthislandandthatthePrinceSetididwelltorefusethethroneofEgyptandtoflytoMemphis。Repeatittohim，Ana。“
　　Thenhetoowasgone。
　　NowIreturnedinsafetytoMemphisandtoldallthesetidingstothePrince，wholistenedtothemeagerly。Onceonlywashegreatlystirred；itwaswhenIrepeatedtohimthewordsofUserti，thatneverwouldshelookuponhisfaceagainunlessitpleasedhimtoturnittowardsthethrone。Onhearingthistearscameintohiseyes，andrising，hewalkedupanddownthechamber。
　　“Thefallenmustnotlookforgentleness，“hesaid，“anddoubtless，Ana，youthinkitfollythatIshouldgrievebecauseIamthusdeserted。“
　　“Nay，Prince，forItoohavebeenabandonedbyawifeandthepainisunforgotten。“
　　“ItisnotofthewifeIthink，Ana，sinceintruthherHighnessisnowifetome。ForwhatevermaybetheancientlawsofEgypt，howcouldithappenotherwise，atanyrateinmycaseandhers？Itisofthesister。Forthoughmymotherwasnothers，sheandIwerebroughtuptogetherandinourwaylovedeachother，thoughalwaysitwasherpleasuretolorditoverme，asitwasminetosubmitandpayherbackinjests。ThatiswhysheissoangrybecausenowofasuddenIhavethrownoffherruletofollowmyownwillwherebyshehaslostthethrone。“
　　“IthasalwaysbeenthedutyoftheroyalheiressofEgypttomarrythePharaohofEgypt，Prince，andhavingwedonewhowouldbePharaohaccordingtothatduty，theblowcutsdeep。“
　　“ThenshehadbestthrustasidethatfoolishwifeofhisandwedhimwhoisPharaoh。Butthatshewillneverdo；Amenmesesshehasalwayshated，somuchthatsheloathedtobeinthesameplacewithhim。Norindeedwouldhewedher，whowishestoruleforhimself，notthroughawomanwhosetitletothecrownisbetterthanhisown。Well，shehasputmeawayandthere’sanend。HenceforthImustgolonely，unless——
　　unless-Continueyourstory，friend。Itiskindofherinhergreatnesstopromisetoprotectonesohumble。Ishouldrememberthat，althoughitistruethatfallenheadssometimesriseagain，“headdedbitterly。
　　“SoatleastJabezthinks，Prince，“andItoldhimhowtheIsraelitesweresurethathewouldbePharaoh，whereathelaughedandsaid：
　　“Perhaps，fortheyaregoodprophets。FormypartIneitherknoworcare。OrmaybeJabezseesadvantageintalkingthus，forasyouknowheisaclevertrader。“
　　“Idonotthinkso，“Iansweredandstopped。
　　“HadJabezmoretosayofanyothermatter，Ana？OftheladyMerapi，forinstance？“
　　Nowfeelingittobemyduty，ItoldhimeverywordthathadpassedbetweenJabezandmyself，thoughsomewhatshamefacedly。
　　“ThisHebrewtakesmuchforgranted，Ana，evenastowhomtheMoonofIsraelwouldwishtoshineupon。Why，friend，itmightbeyouwhomshedesirestotouchwithherlight，orsomeyouthinGoshen——notLaban——
　　ornoone。“
　　“Me，Prince，me!“Iexclaimed。
　　“Well，Ana，Iamsureyouwouldhaveitso。Beadvisedbymeandaskherminduponthematter。Looknotsoconfused，man，foronewhohasbeenmarriedyouaretoomodest。CometellmeofthisCrowning。“
　　SogladenoughtoescapefromthematterofMerapi，IspokeatlengthofallthathadhappenedwhenPharaohAmenmesestookhisseatuponthethrone。WhenIdescribedhowtherodoftheHebrewprophethadbeenturnedtoasnakeandhowKiandhiscompanyhaddonelikewise，thePrincelaughedandsaidthattheseweremerejugglers’tricks。ButwhenItoldofthedarknessthathadseemedtogatherinthehallandofthegloomthatfilledtheheartsofallmenandoftheawesomedreamofBakenkhonsu，alsoofthewordsofKiafterhehadcloudedmymindandplayedhisjestuponme，helistenedwithmuchearnestnessandanswered：