Now, as the meaning of this bold request sank into their hearts, all the court there gathered gasped and whispered, while the Queen Ahura in her anger crushed the lotus flower which she held in her hand and cast it to the floor.  Only Pharaoh sat still and silent, his head bent and his eyes shut as though in prayer.  For a minute or more he sat thus, and when he lifted his pale, pure face, there was a smile upon it.

“Abi, my brother,” he said in his gentle voice, “listen to me.  There are those who filled this throne before me, who on hearing such words would have pointed to you with their sceptres, whereon, Abi, those lips of yours would have grown still for ever, and you and your name and the names of all your House would have been blotted out by death.  But, Abi, you were ever bold, and I forgive you for laying open the thoughts of your heart to me.  Still, Abi, you have not told us all of them.  You have not told us, for instance,” he went on slowly, and in the midst of an intense silence, “that but last night you debated whether it would not be possible with that guard of yours to break into my palace and put me to the sword and name yourself Pharaoh—­by right of blood, Abi; yes, by right of blood—­my blood shed by you, my brother.”

As these words left the royal lips a tumult arose in the hall, the women and the great officers sprang up, the captains stepped forward drawing their swords to avenge so horrible a sacrilege.  But Pharaoh waved his sceptre, and they were still, only Abi cried in a great voice.

“Who has dared to whisper a lie so monstrous?” And he glared first at Kaku and then at the captain of his guard who stood behind him, and choked in wrath, or fear, or both.

“Suspect not your officers, Prince,” went on the Pharaoh, still smiling, “for on my royal word they are innocent.  Yet, Abi, a pavilion set upon the deck of a ship is no good place to plot the death of kings.  Pharaoh has many spies, also, at times, the gods, to whom as you say he is so near, whisper tidings to him in his sleep.  Suspect not your officers, Abi, although I think that to yonder Master of the Stars who stands behind you, I should be grateful, since, had you attempted to execute this madness, but for him I might have been forced to kill you, Abi, as one kills a snake that creeps beneath his mat.  Astrologer, you shall have a gift from me, for you are a wise man.  It may take the place, perhaps, of one that you have lost; was it not a certain woman slave whom your master gave to you last night—­after he had punished her for no fault?”

Kaku prostrated himself before the glory of Pharaoh, understanding at last that it was the lost girl Merytra who had overheard and betrayed them.  But heeding him no more, his Majesty went on.