After a short colloquy between Aaron and the woman of Israel, the children were dismissed to play in the fields and the woman carried the bowl and basket of lentils out of ear-shot of her house.

“Let us enter,” Aaron said, with an inclination of his head toward Seti.  He stooped and preceded the young man into the home of the Hebrew.

The prince saw the black dispose himself on the grass outside, with his eyes upon the sumpter-mule.

Aaron sat upon one of the rugs, and Seti, following his example, took another.

“Say on,” the prince urged.

The Hebrew began at once.

“What I tell thee, O my son, will soon be talked abroad over the land.  But if thou hast a doubt in thy heart, and art like to question my truth-speaking, there are witnesses I may summon, such as no wise man will deny.  And these be Jambres, and the twelve priests of the cities of the north, and the innkeeper at Pithom, also the governor over the treasure-city, his soldiers, and others, who know the secret by now.

“I will give thee the tale now, and the proof thereafter, if thou believest me not.

“Last night, I lay under the tent of a son of Israel, at Pithom.  When I arose, two hours before dawn, horsemen began to gallop through the city toward the south.  The inhabitants were aroused; there was much running to and fro, and the inn was full of lights.

“We approached, and when the tumult had died and the Egyptians were so full of the tidings that they were glad to relieve themselves even to an Israelite, I asked and learned this story.  Many times afterward, on my way hither, I heard it from the lips of men whom I passed, so I am not deceived.

“Seven days agone, under an evil star, a veiled woman came to the temple of Bast, in the village of image-makers, and made offerings to the idol.  She remained in the shrine, praying, for a time without reason, as though she pretended to worship, until a certain space should elapse.  At the end of the hour in which she came, another woman, closely covered, her mouth hidden, entered and knelt near her.  In a little they arose and went forth together, and Jambres, who is priest at the little temple, grown suspicious by reason of their behavior, looked after them.  The wind swayed the garments of the second stranger, and showed the foot and ankle of a man.  Filled with wonderment, Jambres laid aside his priest’s robes and garbing himself like a wayfarer, followed.  They left the village, going east where the road leadeth along the canal, which is hidden by the sprouts of young trees.  Farther up the way were servitors who waited for the man and woman, but the two stepped out of ear-shot, and sat by the road to talk.

“Jambres, hidden in the fringe of bushes behind, heard them.

“They laid a snare.  And thou, O Prince, wast to be trapped therein.”

Seti’s eyes were veiled and his face showed a heightening of color.