“Thou wast to come to the temple in the village of image-makers with treasure to give into the hands of Moses.  Thy message to my brother was to be delivered by the Princess Ta-user.  She delivered it not.  The word she should have brought came to Moses by a son of Belial, a godless Hebrew, sent by Jambres, for the brotherhood of priests would have had Moses come to the temple, for their own ends.  But the servants of the Lord God of Israel are keen-eyed and they know a jackal from a hare.  However, these matters I did not hear from the people.  Such secret things are not discussed upon the streets.  All that I heard in Pithom may be talked openly over Egypt.

“The man and the woman laid their plans, and they were these:  Last night, the man and his servants were to lie at Pithom, and to-day they were to meet thee at the temple of Bast, overpower thee, take thy treasure and, with the woman, fly to some secure place.  With the treasure they were to hire them soldiers—­mercenaries, and take arms against the king, thy father.”

The speaker paused again.  Seti’s breast labored and his gaze was fixed upon the Hebrew.

“The ire of Jambres was kindled against the plotters, and he called an assembly of the priests within short distances from the village of image-makers and laid his discoveries before them.  They pledged themselves to proceed to Pithom last night, which was the night they came together in council, and take the traitors.  But one among their number, a young priest who knew the woman, played them false, entered the city before his fellows and warned the plotters.  They had fled, with the priests in pursuit.

“My son, the man was Siptah, son of Amon-meses; the woman, the Princess Ta-user.”

The prince’s face took on an insane beauty.  In each cheek was a scarlet stain—­his lips smiled without parting and his eyes glittered.  He did not question the Hebrew’s story.  Something within him corroborated every word.  He sprang to his feet and with an unnatural laugh flung his hand above his head.

“Now, by Horus,” he cried, “I must get back to Tanis.  I would ask the pardon of Rameses!”

Aaron arose and laid detaining hands upon him.

“I did not tell thee this, that I might be a bearer of evil tidings.  I came forth to meet thee, that thou mayest save thyself.  Far be it from me to bring misfortune upon Israel’s one friend in Egypt’s high places.  Return to Tanis with all speed and take the treasure with thee.  Then only will the intent rest against thee—­”

“Not so,” Seti interrupted harshly.  “Wilt thou rob me of the one balm to my humiliation?  Wilt thou defeat me also in the one good deed I would do?  Take thou the treasure and be glad that it fell not into the hands of the wanton.  Let me depart.”

But Aaron was planted in his way.

“Knowest thou not what they will do with thee?  Thou wouldst have given aid to the enemy of Egypt.  Thou knowest the penalty.  Sooner would Israel make it a garment of sackcloth and feed upon alms, than yield thee up to thine enemies for thy gold’s sake—­”