passed behind a cloud and the world was dark. Then from the edge of the
cloud sprang out a ray of light that lay straight and narrow above us on
the heavens. Seti studied it a while and said:

"Tell me, O Ana, of what does that moonbeam put you in mind?"

"Of a sword, O Prince," I answered, "stretched out over Egypt and held
in the black hand of some mighty god or spirit. See, there is the blade
from which fall little clouds like drops of blood, there is the hilt of
gold, and look! there beneath is the face of the god. Fire streams from
his eyebrows and his brow is black and awful. I am afraid, though what I
fear I know not."

"You have a poet's mind, Ana. Still, what you see I see and of this I
am sure, that some sword of vengeance is indeed stretched out over
Egypt because of its evil doings, whereof this light may be the symbol.
Behold! it seems to fall upon the temples of the gods and the palace of
Pharaoh, and to cleave them. Now it is gone and the night is as nights
were from the beginning of the world. Come to my chamber and let us eat.
I am weary, I need food and wine, as you must after struggling with that
lustful murderer whom I have sent to his own place."

The guards saluted and were dismissed. We mounted to the Prince's
private chambers, in one of which his servants clad me in fine linen
robes after a skilled physician of the household had doctored the
bruises upon my thigh over which he tied a bandage spread with balm.
Then I was led to a small dining-hall, where I found the Prince waiting
for me as though I were some honoured guest and not a poor scribe who
had wondered hence from Memphis with my wares. He caused me to sit down
at his right hand and even drew up the chair for me himself, whereat I