“O Prince, you will have learned nothing.  Yet if I escape from the wrath of Amon and my God is deaf to my prayer, then I am ready to be delivered over into the hands of the priests of Amon that they may avenge my sacrilege upon me.”

“There speaks a great heart,” said Seti; “yet I am not minded that this lady should set her life upon such an issue.  I do not believe that either the high-god of Egypt or the god of the Israelites will stir, but I am quite sure that the priests of Amon will avenge the sacrilege, and that cruelly enough.  The dice are loaded against you, Lady.  You shall not prove your faith with blood.”

“Why not?” asked Userti.  “What is this girl to you, Seti, that you should stand between her and the fruit of her wickedness, you who at least in name are the high-priest of the god whom she blasphemes and who wear his robes at temple feasts?  She believes in her god, leave it to her god to help her as she has dared to say he will.”

“You believe in Amon, Userti.  Are you prepared to stake your life against hers in this contest?”

“I am not so mad and vain, Seti, as to believe that the god of all the world will descend from heaven to save me at my prayer, as this impious girl pretends that she believes.”

“You refuse.  Then, Ana, what say you, who are a loyal worshipper of Amon?”

“I say, O Prince, that it would be presumptuous of me to take precedence of his high-priest in such a matter.”

Seti smiled and answered: 

“And the high-priest says that it would be presumptuous of him to push so far the prerogative of a high office which he never sought.”

“Your Highness,” broke in Merapi in her honeyed, pleading voice, “I pray you to be gracious to me, and to suffer me to make this trial, which I have sought, I know not why.  Words such as I have spoken cannot be recalled.  Already they are registered in the books of Eternity, and soon or late, in this way or in that, must be fulfilled.  My life is staked, and I desire to learn at once if it be forfeit.”

Now even Userti looked on her with admiration, but answered only: 

“Of a truth, Israelite, I trust that this courage will not forsake you when you are handed over to the mercies of Ki, the Sacrificer of Amon, and the priests, in the vaults of the temple you would profane.”

“I also trust that it will not, your Highness, if such should be my fate.  Your word, Prince of Egypt.”

Seti looked at her standing before him so calmly with bowed head, and hands crossed upon her breast.  Then he looked at Userti, who wore a mocking smile upon her face.  She read the meaning of that smile as I did.  It was that she did not believe that he would allow this beautiful woman, who had saved his life, to risk her life for the sake of any or all the powers of heaven or hell.  For a little while he walked to and fro about the chamber, then he stopped and said suddenly addressing, not Merapi, but Userti: