Still robed Tua lay upon a couch, for she would not seek her bed, while
Asti stood near to her, a dark commanding figure.

"Your Majesty has done strange things to-night," said Asti in her quiet
voice.

Tua turned her head and looked at her, then answered:

"Very strange, Nurse. You see, the gods and that troublesome son of
yours and Pharaoh's sudden sickness threw the strings of Fate into
my hand, and--I pulled them. I always had a fancy for the pulling of
strings, but the chance never came my way before."

"It seems to me that for a beginner your Majesty pulled somewhat hard,"
said Asti drily.

"Yes, Nurse, so hard that I think I have pulled your son off the
scaffold into a place of some honour, if he knows how to stay there,
though it was the Council and the lords and the ladies, who thought that
_they_ pulled. You see one must commence as one means to go on."

"Your Majesty is very clever; you will make a great Queen--if you do not
overpull yourself."

"Not half so clever as you were, Asti, when you made that monkey come
out of the vase," answered Tua, laughing somewhat hysterically. "Oh! do
not look innocent, I know it was your magic, for I could feel it passing
over my head. How did you do it, Asti?"

"If your Majesty will tell me how you made the lords of Egypt consent to