“Have your will, remembering that if this brave woman fails and dies, her blood is on your hands, and that if she triumphs and lives, I shall hold her to be one of the noblest of her sex, and shall make study of all this matter of religion.  Moon of Israel, as titular high-priest of Amon-Ra, I accept your challenge on behalf of the god, though whether he will take note of it I do not know.  The trial shall be made to-morrow night in the sanctuary of the temple, at an hour that will be communicated to you.  I shall be present to make sure that you meet with justice, as will some others.  Register my commands, Scribe Ana, and let the head-priest of Amon, Roi, and the sacrificer to Amon, Ki the Magician, be summoned, that I may speak with them.  Farewell, Lady.”

She went, but at the door turned and said: 

“I thank you, Prince, on my own behalf, and on that of my people.  Whatever chances, I beseech you do not forget the prayer that I have made to you to save them, being innocent, from the sword.  Now I ask that I may be left quite alone till I am summoned to the temple, who must make such preparation as I can to meet my fate, whatever it may be.”

Userti departed also without a word.

“Oh! friend, what have I done?” said Seti.  “Are there any gods?  Tell me, are there any gods?”

“Perhaps we shall learn to-morrow night, Prince,” I answered.  “At least Merapi thinks that there is a god, and doubtless has been commanded to put her faith to proof.  This, as I believe, was the real message that Jabez her uncle has brought to her.”

It was the hour before the dawn, just when the night is darkest.  We stood in the sanctuary of the ancient temple of Amon-Ra, that was lit with many lamps.  It was an awful place.  On either side the great columns towered to the massive roof.  At the head of the sanctuary sat the statue of Amon-Ra, thrice the size of a man.  On his brow, rising from the crown, were two tall feathers of stone, and in his hands he held the Scourge of Rule and the symbols of Power and Everlastingness.  The lamplight flickered upon his stern and terrible face staring towards the east.  To his right was the statue of Mut, the Mother of all things.  On her head was the double crown of Egypt and the uraeus crest, and in her hand the looped cross, the sign of Life eternal.  To his left sat Khonsu, the hawk-headed god of the moon.  On his head was the crescent of the young moon carrying the disc of the full moon; in his right hand he also held the looped cross, the sign of Life eternal, and in his left the Staff of Strength.  Such was this mighty triad, but of these the greatest was Amon-Ra, to whom the shrine was dedicated.  Fearful they stood towering above us against the background of blackness.