“WhatshallIdo？“mutteredSeti，ashepassedme。
　　“Idonotaltogetherlikehiscompany，nor，Ithink，doestheladyMerapi，butheisanillmantooffend，Prince，“Ianswered。“Look，heistalkingwithhisfamiliar。“
　　Setireturnedtohisplace，andshakingoffthemothwhichseemedlothtoleavehim，fortwiceitsettledonhishead，Kicamebackintotheshadow。
　　“Whereistheuseofyourputtingquestionstome，Ki，when，accordingtoyourownshowing，alreadyyouknowtheanswerthatIwillgive？
　　WhatanswershallIgive？“askedthePrince。
　　“Thatpaintedcreaturewhichsatuponmyhandjustnow，seemedtowhispertomethatyouwouldsay，OPrince，’Stay，Ki，andbemyfaithfulservant，anduseanylittleloreyouhavetoshieldmyhousefromill。’“
　　ThenSetilaughedinhiscarelessfashion，andreplied：
　　“Haveyourway，sinceitisarulethatnoneoftheroyalbloodofEgyptmayrefusehospitalitytothosewhoseekit，havingbeentheirfriends，andIwillnotquoteagainstyourmothwhatabatwhisperedinmyearslastnight。Nay，noneofyoursalutationsrevealedtoyoubyinsectsorbythefuture，“andhegavehimhishandtokiss。
　　WhenKiwasgone，Isaid：
　　“Itoldyouthatnight-hauntingthingwashisfamiliar。“
　　“Thenyoutoldmefolly，Ana。TheknowledgethatKihashedoesnotgetfrommothsorbeetles。YetnowthatitistoolateIwishthatI
　　hadaskedtheladyMerapiwhatherwillwasinthismatter。Youshouldhavethoughtofthat，Ana，insteadofsufferingyourmindtobeledastraybyaninsectsittingonhishand，whichisjustwhathemeantthatyoushoulddo。Well，inpunishment，daybydayitshallbeyourlottolookuponamanwithacountenancelike——likewhat？“
　　“LikethatwhichIsawuponthecoffinofthegoodgod，yourdivinefather，Meneptah，asitwaspreparedforhimduringhislifeintheembalmer’sshopatTanis，“Ianswered。
　　“Yes，“saidthePrince，“afacesmilingeternallyattheNothingnesswhichisLifeandDeath，butincertainlights，witheyesoffire。“
　　Onthefollowingday，byherinvitation，IwalkedwiththeladyMerapiinthegarden，theheadnursefollowingus，bearingtheroyalchildinherarms。
　　“IwishtoaskyouaboutKi，friendAna，“shesaid。“Youknowheismyenemy，foryoumusthaveheardthewordshespoketomeinthetempleofAmonatTanis。Itseemsthatmylordhasmadehimtheguestofthishouse——ohlook!“andshepointedbeforeher。
　　Ilooked，andthereafewpacesaway，wheretheshadowoftheoverhangingpalmswasdeepest，stoodKi。Hewasleaningonhisstaff，thesamethathadturnedtoasnakeinmyhand，andgazingupwardslikeonewhoislostinthought，orlistenstothesingingofbirds。
　　Merapiturnedasthoughtofly，butatthatmomentKisawus，althoughhestillseemedtogazeupwards。
　　“Greeting，OMoonofIsrael，“hesaidbowing。“Greeting，OConquerorofKi!“
　　Shebowedback，andstoodstill，asalittlebirdstandswhenitseesasnake。Therewasalongsilence，whichhebrokebyasking：
　　“WhyseekthatfromAnawhichKihimselfiseagertogive？Anaislearned，butishishearttheheartofKi？Aboveall，whytellhimthatKi，thehumblestofyourservants，isyourenemy？“
　　NowMerapistraightenedherself，lookedintohiseyes，andanswered：
　　“HaveItoldAnaaughtthathedidnotknow？DidnotAnahearthelastwordsyousaidtomeinthetempleofAmonatTanis？“
　　“Doubtlessheheardthem，Lady，andthereforeIamgladthatheisheretoheartheirmeaning。LadyMerapi，atthatmoment，I，theSacrificertoAmon，wasfilled——notwithmyownspirit，butwiththeangryspiritofthegodwhomyouhadhumbledasneverbeforehadbefallenhiminEgypt。Thegodthroughmedemandedofyouthesecretofyourmagic，andpromisedyouhishate，ifyourefused。Lady，youhavehishate，butmineyouhavenot，sinceIalsohavehishatebecauseI，andhethroughme，havebeenworstedbyyourprophets。
　　Lady，wearefellow-travellersintheValleyofTrouble。“
　　Shegazedathimsteadily，andIcouldseethatofallthatpassedhislipsshebelievednooneword。MakingnoanswertohimandhistalkofAmon，sheaskedonly：
　　“Whydoyoucomeheretodomeillwhohavedoneyounone？“
　　“Youaremistaken，Lady，“hereplied。“IcomeheretorefugefromAmon，andfromhisservantPharaoh，whomAmondrivesontoruin。I
　　knowwellthat，ifyouwillit，youcanwhisperintheearofthePrinceandpresentlyhewillputmeforth。Onlythen-“andhelookedoverherheadtowherethenursestoodrockingthesleepingchild。
　　“Thenwhat，Magician？“
　　Givingnoanswer，heturnedtome。
　　“LearnedAna，toyouremembermeetingmeatTanisonenight？“
　　Ishookmyhead，thoughIguessedwellenoughwhatnighthemeant。
　　“Yourmemoryweakens，learnedAna，orratherisconfused，forwemetoften，didwenot？“
　　Thenhestaredatthestaffinhishand。Istaredalso，becauseI
　　couldnothelpit，andsaw，orthoughtIsaw，thedeadwoodbegintoswellandcurve。ThiswasenoughformeandIsaidhastily：
　　“IfyoumeanthenightoftheCoronation，Idorecall-“
　　“Ah!Ithoughtyouwould。You，learnedAna，wholikeallscribesobservesoclosely，willhavenotedhowlittlethings——suchasthescentofaflower，orthepassingofabird，oreventhewrithingofasnakeinthedust——oftenbringbacktothemindeventsorwordsithasforgottenlongago。“
　　“Well——whatofourmeeting？“Ibrokeinhastily。
　　“Nothingatall——oronlythis。JustbeforeityouweretalkingwiththeHebrewJabez，theladyMerapi’suncle，wereyounot？“
　　“Yes，Iwastalkingwithhiminanopenplace，alone。“
　　“Notso，learnedScribe，foryouknowweareneveralone——quite。Couldyoubutseeit，everygrainofsandhasanear。“
　　“Bepleasedtoexplain，OKi。“
　　“Nay，Ana，itwouldbetoolong，andshortjestsareeverthebest。AsIhavetoldyou，youwerenotalone，forthoughthereweresomewordsthatIdidnotcatch，/I/heardmuchofwhatpassedbetweenyouandJabez。“
　　“Whatdidyouhear？“Iaskedwrathfully，andnextinstantwishedthatIhadbittenthroughmytonguebeforeitshapedthewords。
　　“Much，much。Letmethink。YouspokeabouttheladyMerapi，andwhethershewoulddowelltobideatMemphisintheshadowofthePrince，ortoreturntoGoshenintotheshadowofacertain——Iforgetthename。Jabez，awell-instructedman，saidhethoughtthatshemightbehappieratMemphis，thoughperhapsherpresencetherewouldbringagreatsorrowuponherselfand——another。“
　　Hereagainhelookedatthechild，whichseemedtofeelhisglance，foritwokeupandbeattheairwithitslittlehands。
　　Thenursefeltitalso，althoughherheadwasturnedaway，forshestartedandthentookshelterbehindtheboleofoneofthepalm-
　　trees。NowMerapisaidinalowandshakenvoice：
　　“Iknowwhatyoumean，Magician，forsincethenIhaveseenmyuncleJabez。“
　　“AsIhavealso，severaltimes，Lady，whichmayexplaintoyouwhatAnaherethinkssowonderful，namelythatIshouldhavelearnedwhattheysaidtogetherwhenhethoughttheywerealone，which，asIhavetoldhim，noonecaneverbe，atleastinEgypt，thelandoflisteninggods-“
　　“Andspyingsorcerers，“Iexclaimed。
　　“-Andspyingsorcerers，“herepeatedafterme，“andscribeswhotakenotes，andlearnthembyheart，andpriestswithearsaslargeasasses，andleavesthatwhisper——andmanyotherthings。“
　　“Ceaseyourgibes，andsaywhatyouhavetosay，“saidMerapi，inthesamebrokenvoice。
　　Hemadenoanswer，butonlylookedatthetreebehindwhichthenurseandchildhadvanished。
　　“Oh!Iknow，Iknow，“sheexclaimedintonesthatwerelikeacry。“Mychildisthreatened!Youthreatenmychildbecauseyouhateme。“
　　“Yourpardon，Lady。Itistruethatevilthreatensthisroyalbabe，orsoIunderstoodfromJabez，whoknowssomuch。ButitisnotIthatthreatenit，anymorethanIhateyou，inwhomIacknowledgeafellowofmycraft，butonegreaterthanmyselfthatitismydutytoobey。“
　　“Havedone!Whydoyoutormentme？“
　　“CanthepriestsoftheMoon-goddesstormentIsis，MotherofMagic，withtheirprayersandofferings？AndcanIwhowouldmakeaprayerandanoffering-“
　　“Whatprayer，andwhatoffering？“