“With most men, Ana, it would be simple.  A sigh, some half-hidden tears at the right moment, and the thing is done, as I have known it done a thousand times.  But this prince being what he is, it may be otherwise.  She may show him that her name is gone from him; that because of him she is hated by her people, and rejected by her god, and thus stir his pity, which is Love’s own sister.  Or mayhap, being also, as I am told, wise, she will give him counsel as to all these matters of the Israelites, and thus creep into his heart under the guise of friendship, and then her sweetness and her beauty will do the rest in Nature’s way.  At least by this road or by that, upstream or downstream, thither she will come.”

“If so, what of it?  It is the custom of the kings of Egypt to have more wives than one.”

“This, Ana; Seti, I think, is a man who in truth will have but one, and that one will be this Hebrew.  Yes, a Hebrew woman will rule Egypt, and turn him to the worship of her god, for never will she worship ours.  Indeed, when they see that she is lost to them, her people will use her thus.  Or perchance her god himself will use her to fulfil his purpose, as already he may have used her.”

“And afterwards, Bakenkhonsu?”

“Afterwards—­who knows?  I am not a magician, at least not one of any account, ask it of Ki.  But I am very, very old and I have watched the world, and I tell you that these things will happen, unless——­” and he paused.

“Unless what?”

He dropped his voice.

“Unless Userti is bolder than I think, and kills her first or, better still, procures some Hebrew to kill her—­say, that cast-off lover of hers.  If you would be a friend to Pharaoh and to Egypt, you might whisper it in her ear, Ana.”

“Never!” I answered angrily.

“I did not think you would, Ana, who also struggle in this net of moonbeams that is stronger and more real than any twisted out of palm or flax.  Well, nor will I, who in my age love to watch such human sport and, being so near to them, fear to thwart the schemes of gods.  Let this scroll unroll itself as it will, and when it is open, read it, Ana, and remember what I said to you this day.  It will be a pretty tale, written at the end with blood for ink.  Oho!  O-ho-ho!” and, laughing, he hobbled from the room, leaving me frightened.

Moreover the Prince visited me every day, and even before I left my bed began to dictate to me his report to Pharaoh, since he would employ no other scribe.  The substance of it was what he had foreshadowed, namely that the people of Israel, having suffered much for generations at the hands of the Egyptians, should now be allowed to depart as their prophets demanded, and go whither they would unharmed.  Of the attack upon us in the pass he made light, saying it was the evil work of a few zealots wrought on by fancied insult to their god, a deed for which the whole people should not be called upon to suffer.  The last words of the report were: