He brooded a while, then went on.

“Yet if I were Pharaoh I would let these people go, for without doubt their god has much power and I tell you that I fear them.”

“Why will he not let them go?” I asked.  “They are a weakness, not a strength to Egypt, as was shown at the time of the invasion of the Barbarians with whom they sided.  Moreover, the value of this rich land of theirs, which they cannot take with them, is greater than that of all their labour.”

“I do not know, friend.  The matter is one upon which my father keeps his own counsel, even from the Princess Userti.  Perhaps it is because he will not change the policy of his father, Rameses; perhaps because he is stiff-necked to those who cross his will.  Or it may be that he is held in this path by a madness sent of some god to bring loss and shame on Egypt.”

“Then, Prince, all the priests and nobles are mad also, from Count Amenmeses down.”

“Where Pharaoh leads priests and nobles follow.  The question is, who leads Pharaoh?  Here is the temple of these Hebrews; let us enter.”

So we descended from the chariot, where, for my part, I would have remained, and walked through the gateway in the surrounding mud wall into the outer court of the temple, which on this the holy seventh day of the Hebrews was full of praying women, who feigned not to see us yet watched us out of the corners of their eyes.  Passing through them we came to a doorway, by which we entered another court that was roofed over.  Here were many men who murmured as we appeared.  They were engaged in listening to a preacher in a white robe, who wore a strange shaped cap and some ornaments on his breast.  I knew the man; he was the priest Kohath who had instructed the Prince in so much of the mysteries of the Hebrew faith as he chose to reveal.  On seeing us he ceased suddenly in his discourse, uttered some hasty blessing and advanced to greet us.

I waited behind the Prince, thinking it well to watch his back among all those fierce men, and did not hear what the priest said to him, as he whispered in that holy place.  Kohath led him forward, to free him from the throng, I thought, till they came to the head of the little temple that was marked by some steps, above which hung a thick and heavy curtain.  The Prince, walking on, did not see the lowest of these steps in the gloom, which was deep.  His foot caught on it; he fell forward, and to save himself grasped at the curtain where the two halves of it met, and dragged it open, revealing a chamber plain and small beyond, in which was an altar.  That was all I had time to see, for next instant a roar of rage rent the air and knives flashed in the gloom.

“The Egyptian defiles the tabernacle!” shouted one.  “Drag him out and kill him!” screamed another.

“Friends,” said Seti, turning as they surged towards him, “if I have done aught wrong it was by chance——­”

He could add no more, seeing that they were on him, or rather on me who had leapt in front of him.  Already they had grasped my robes and my hand was on my sword-hilt, when the priest Kohath cried out: