and you shall fall headlong to that white line, which is a street, and
before to-morrow morning the dogs will have picked your broken bones,
so that none can know you, for you have heard too much to go hence alive
unless it be to do my bidding. Oh, no! Think not to say 'I will' and
afterwards deceive me, for that image which you take with you is my
servant, and will keep watch on you and make report to me and to the
god, its master. Now choose."

"I will obey," said Merytra faintly, and as she spoke she thought that
she heard a laugh in the air outside the window.

"Good. Now hide the box beneath your cloak and drop it not, for if so
that which is within will call aloud after you, and they will kill you
for a sorceress. Unless my word come to you, lay the figure in Pharaoh's
bed to-morrow evening, and at the hour of moonrise hold its limbs in
the flame in your own chamber, and hide it away, and afterwards bring it
back to me that I may enchant it afresh, if there be any need. Now come,
and I will guard you to the gates of the old temple of Sekhet, where
Pharaoh dwells."



CHAPTER IX

THE DOOM OF PHARAOH

On the morrow when the lady Asti came to dress the Queen for that
day's ceremony, she asked her if Amen had given her the wisdom that she
sought.