but Seti remained standing. Then the Princess said:

"Since it is your will, Brother, that I should talk secrets into
other ears than yours, I obey you. Still"--here she looked at me
wrathfully--"let the tongue be careful that it does not repeat what
the ears have heard, lest there should be neither ears nor tongue. My
Brother, it has been reported to Pharaoh, while we ate together, that
there is tumult in this town. It has been reported to him that because
of a trouble about some base Israelite you caused one of his officers to
be beheaded, after which there came a riot which still rages."

"Strange that truth should have come to the ears of Pharaoh so quickly.
Now, my Sister, if he had heard it three moons hence I could have
believed you--almost."

"Then you did behead the officer?"

"Yes, I beheaded him about two hours ago."

"Pharaoh will demand an account of the matter."

"Pharaoh," answered Seti lifting his eyes, "has no power to question the
justice of the Governor of Tanis in the north."

"You are in error, Seti. Pharaoh has all power."

"Nay, Sister, Pharaoh is but one man among millions of other men, and
though he speaks it is their spirit which bends his tongue, while above
that spirit is a great greater spirit who decrees what they shall think
to ends of which we know nothing."