"That is Abi's business, is it not? Our business, Merytra, is to get him
there. Now we may take it this will not be with her consent."

"Certainly not, Kaku," she answered. "The gossip goes that she is in
love with young Count Rames, who fought and killed the Prince of Kesh
before her eyes, and now has gone to make amends to the king his father
at the head of an army."

"That may be true, Merytra. Why not? He is her foster-brother and of
royal blood, bold, too, and handsome, they say. Well, queens have no
business to be in love. That is the privilege of humbler folk like you
and me, Merytra. Say, is she suspicious--about Prince Abi, I mean?"

"I do not know, but Asti, her nurse and favourite lady, the wife of
Mermes and mother of Rames, is suspicious enough. She is a greater
magician than you are, Kaku, and if she could have had her way Pharaoh
would never have set foot in Memphis. But I got your letter and
over-persuaded him, the poor fool. You see he thinks me faithful to
his House, and that is why I am allowed to be here to-night, to collect
information."

"Ah! Well, what Asti knows the Queen will know, and she is stronger than
Pharaoh, and notwithstanding all Abi's ships and soldiers, may break
away from Memphis and make war upon him. So it comes to this--Pharaoh
must stay here, for his daughter will not desert him."

"How will you make him stay here, Kaku? Not by----" and she glanced
towards the shrouded crystal.

"Nay, no blood if it can be helped. He must not even seem to be a