him. What shall I give you?"

"I want nothing," said the dwarf, "but--"

"You are commissioned by a third person," said the witch, laughing. "It
is the same thing. Whoever wants a thing for some one else only thinks
of his own interest."

"May be," said Nemu. "At any rate your words show that you have not
grown less wise since I saw you last--and I am glad of it, for I want
your advice."

"Advice is cheap. What is going on out there?" Nemu related to his
mother shortly, clearly, and without reserve, what was plotting in his
mistress's house, and the frightful disgrace with which she was
threatened through her son.

The old woman shook her grey head thoughtfully several times: but she let
the little man go on to the end of his story without interrupting him.
Then she asked, and her eyes flashed as she spoke:

"And you really believe that you will succeed in putting the sparrow on
the eagle's perch--Ani on the throne of Rameses?"

"The troops fighting in Ethiopia are for us," cried Nemu. "The priests
declare themselves against the king, and recognize in Ani the genuine
blood of Ra."

"That is much," said the old woman.