"Aye, I know her," replied Tua, with emphasis. "She was ever whispering
with that tall astrologer at the feast. But does Pharaoh take counsel
with waiting-ladies of his private household?"

"With this waiting-lady, it seems, Queen. Perhaps you have not heard all
her story, in the year before your birth Merytra came up the Nile with
Abi. She was then quite young and very pretty; one of Abi's women. It
seems that the Prince struck her for some fault, and being clever she
determined to be revenged upon him. Soon she got her chance, for she
heard Abi disclose to the astrologer Kaku, that same man whom you saw
to-night talking with her, a plan that he had made to murder Pharaoh and
declare himself king, from which Kaku dissuaded him. Having this secret
and being bold, she fled at once from the ship of Abi, and that night
told Pharaoh everything. But he forgave Abi, and sent him home again
with honour who should have slain him for his treason. Only Merytra
remained in the Court, and from that time forward Pharaoh, who trusted
her and was caught by her wit and beauty, made it a habit to send for
her when he wished to have news of Memphis where she was born, because
she seemed always to know even the most secret things that were passing
in that city. Moreover, often her information proved true."

"That is not to be wondered at, Nurse, seeing that doubtless it came
from this Kaku, Abi's astrologer and magician."

"No, Queen, it is not to be wondered at, especially as she paid back
secret for secret. Well, I believe that after I had warned Pharaoh of
what I knew, never mind how, he sent for Merytra, who laughed the tale
to scorn, and told him that Abi his brother had long ago abandoned all
ambitions, being well content with his great place and power which one