“‘Now you have heard, Moon of Israel,’ he said, ’and now you must believe and come, although you think yourself safe because at the beginning of the plagues this, the home of Seti, was enchanted against evil, so that none within it can be harmed.’

“’I have heard, and I think that I believe, though how the tidings reached Memphis in an hour I do not understand.  Yet, stranger, I say to you that it is not enough.’

“Then the man drew a papyrus roll from his bosom and threw it at my feet.  I opened it and read.  The writing was the writing of Ana as I knew well, and the signature was the signature of you, my lord, and it was sealed with your seal, and with the seal of Bakenkhonsu as a witness.  Here it is,” and from the breast of her garment, she drew out a roll and gave it to me upon whom she rested all this while.

I opened it, and by the light of torches the Prince, Bakenkhonsu, and I read.  It was as she had told us in what seemed to be my writing, and signed and sealed as she had said.  The words ran: 

“To Merapi, Moon of Israel, in my house at Memphis.

“Come, Lady, Flower of Love, to me your lord, to whom the bearer of this will guide you safely.  Come at once, for I am in great danger, as you are, and together only can we be safe.”

“Ana, what means this?” asked the Prince in a terrible voice.  “If you have betrayed me and her——­”

“By the gods,” I began angrily, “am I a man that I should live to hear even your Highness speak thus to me, or am I but a dog of the desert?”

I ceased, for at that moment Bakenkhonsu began to laugh.

“Look at the letter!” he laughed.  “Look at the letter.”

We looked, and as we looked, behold the writing on it turned first to the colour of blood and then faded away, till presently there was nothing in my hand but a blank sheet of papyrus.

“Oho-ho!” laughed Bakenkhonsu.  “Truly, friend Ki, you are the first of magicians, save those prophets of the Israelites who have brought you—­Whither have they brought you, friend Ki?”

Then for the first time the painted smile left the face of Ki, and it became like a block of stone in which were set two angry jewels that were his eyes.

“Continue, Lady,” said the Prince.

“I obeyed the letter.  I fled away with the man who said he had a chariot waiting.  We passed out by the little gate.

“‘Where is the chariot?’ I asked.

“‘We go by boat,’ he answered, and led the way towards the river.  As we threaded the big palm grove men appeared from between the trees.

“‘You have betrayed me,’ I cried.

“‘Nay,’ he answered, ‘I am myself betrayed.’

“Then for the first time I knew his voice for that of Laban.

“The men seized us; at the head of them was Ki.

“‘This is the witch,’ he said, ’who, her wickedness finished, flies with her Hebrew lover, who is also the familiar of her sorceries.’