“Hem!” said Kaku glancing nervously over his shoulder.  Then, seeing that there was no one near, he added, “you had better be careful what you say, my dear.  The royal Abi does not like to hear the colour of his late mother defined so closely.  But why did he slap your face?”

She told him.

“Well,” he answered, “if I had been in his place I would rather have kissed it, for it is pretty, decidedly pretty,” and this learned man forgot himself so far as to wink at Merytra.

“There, Sister,” said the girl, “I always told you that rough shells have sweet nuts inside of them.  Thank you for your compliment, Master of learning.  Will you tell us our fortune for nothing?”

“Yes, yes,” he answered; “at least the fee I want will cost you nothing.  Now stop this nonsense,” he added, anxiously, “I gather that he is cross.”

“I never saw him crosser, Kaku.  I am glad it is you who reads the stars, not I. Listen!”

As he spoke an angry roar reached them from the high deck above.

“Where is that accursed astrologer?” said the roar.

“There, what did I tell you?  Oh! never mind the rest of the papers, go at once.  Your robe is full of rolls as it is.”

“Yes,” answered Kaku as he ran to the ladder, “but the question is, how will he like what is in the rolls?”

“The gods be with you!” cried one of the girls after him, “you will need them all.”

“And if you get back alive, don’t forget your promise about the fortunes,” said the other.

A minute later this searcher of the heavens, a tall, hook-nosed man, was prostrating himself before Abi in his pavilion on the upper deck, so low that his Syrian-shaped cap fell from his bald head.

“Why were you so long in coming?” asked Abi.

“Because your slaves could not find me, royal Son of the Sun.  I was at work in my cabin.”

“Indeed, I thought I heard them giggling with you down there.  What did you call me?  Royal Son of the Sun?  That is Pharaoh’s name!  Have the stars shown you——?” and he looked at him eagerly.

“No, Prince, not exactly that.  I did not think it needful to search them on a matter which seems established, more or less.”

“More or less,” answered Abi gloomily.  “What do you mean by your ’more or less’?  Here am I at the turning-point of my fortunes, not knowing whether I am to be Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower Lands, or only the petty lord of a city and a few provinces in the Delta, and you satisfy my hunger for the truth with an empty dish of ‘more or less.’  Man, what do you mean?”

“If your Majesty will be pleased to tell his servant exactly what you desire to know, perhaps I may be able to answer the question,” replied Kaku humbly.

“Majesty!  Well, I desire to know by what warrant you call me ‘Majesty,’ who am only Prince of Memphis.  Did the stars give it to you?  Have you obeyed me and asked them of the future?”