“No, I spoke them for you.  Hearken to me, Merapi.  They think me a strange man in Egypt because I have held no woman dear, never having seen one whom I could hold dear.”  Here she looked at him searchingly, and he went on, “A while ago, before I visited your land of Goshen—­Ana can tell you about the matter, for I think he wrote it down—­Ki and old Bakenkhonsu came to see me.  Now, as you know, Ki is without doubt a great magician, though it would seem not so great as some of your prophets.  He told me that he and others had been searching out my future and that in Goshen I should find a woman whom it was fated I must love.  He added that this woman would bring me much joy.”  Here Seti paused, doubtless remembering this was not all that Ki had said, or Jabez either.  “Ki told me also,” he went on slowly, “that I had already known this woman for thousands of years.”

She started and a strange look came into her face.

“How can that be, Prince?”

“That is what I asked him and got no good answer.  Still he said it, not only of the woman but of my friend Ana as well, which indeed would explain much, and it would appear that the other magicians said it also.  Then I went to the land of Goshen and there I saw a woman——­”

“For the first time, Prince?”

“No, for the third time.”

Here she sank upon the bench and covered her eyes with her hands.

“——­and loved her, and felt as though I had loved her for ’thousands of years.’”

“It is not true.  You mock me, it is not true!” she whispered.

“It is true for if I did not know it then, I knew it afterwards, though never perhaps completely until to-day, when I learned that Userti had deserted me indeed.  Moon of Israel, you are that woman.  I will not tell you,” he went on passionately, “that you are fairer than all other women, or sweeter, or more wise, though these things you seem to me.  I will only tell you that I love you, yes, love you, whatever you may be.  I cannot offer you the Throne of Egypt, even if the law would suffer it, but I can offer you the throne of this heart of mine.  Now, Lady Merapi, what have you to say?  Before you speak, remember that although you seem to be my prisoner here at Memphis, you have naught to fear from me.  Whatever you may answer, such shelter and such friendship as I can give will be yours while I live, and never shall I attempt to force myself upon you, however much it may pain me to pass you by.  I know not the future.  It may happen that I shall give you great place and power, it may happen that I shall give you nothing but poverty and exile, or even perhaps a share in my own death, but with either will go the worship of my body and my spirit.  Now, speak.”

She dropped her hands from her face, looking up at him, and there were tears shining in her beautiful eyes.

“It cannot be, Prince,” she murmured.

“You mean you do not wish it to be?”