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Mind thee, I know it to be but a maiden fancy which, discouraged, dies. But have a care lest it bring disaster upon him whom thou hast put in jeopardy of the fierce power of the prince." Masanath's eyes widened with terror. The fan-bearer continued: "I have but to mention the name of Hotep " She clutched at her heart. "Ah?" he observed with mild interrogation in the word. "How foolish thy caprice!
"It were better I should go," she insisted, trying to escape Masanath's clasp. "If I go now I can reach my people and be hidden safely." The little Egyptian flung herself upon the Israelite, weeping. "Art thou, too, deserting me thou, who art the last to befriend me? What have I done that thou shouldst desert me?" "Naught! Naught! Thou dear unfortunate!" was the passionate reply. "But I must go!
"Is it Rameses who hath beset thee?" Rachel shook her head and avoided Masanath's eye. "Tell me," the Egyptian insisted. "There is mystery in this. What had my father's man to do with thy hasty resolution to depart?" There was no answer. Masanath put the Israelite back from her a little and repeated her question. "I can not tell thee," Rachel responded slowly.
It was near sunset when a company of royal guards, under Menes, rode up from the north. The captain flung himself from his horse and hurried to Masanath's litter. "Holy Isis! Lady Masanath," he exclaimed; "where in all Egypt hast thou hidden thyself these fourteen days?
Meneptah met them, kissed Masanath's forehead, and blessed her. The queen embraced her and returned to her place beside the Pharaoh. Masanath turned to the right of the royal dais and faced the prince. Thus far, her greetings had not been hard. Now was the supreme test. Har-hat conducted her within a few paces of the prince and stepped aside. What followed was to prove Masanath's willingness.
She stroked the little Egyptian's hair and let the wounded heart soothe itself. Presently Masanath's mind wandered from the new villainy of her father to the memory of the older offense and she wept afresh. "If thou goest, Rachel, there is none left to comfort me," she mourned. "I am alone desolate, and the powers of Egypt are arrayed against me!"
Memphis was in a state of apathy, worn out by revel and emptied of her luminaries, Ta-meri, intoxicated with the importance of her position as lady-in-waiting to the queen, had departed with her husband, the cup-bearer. Io had returned to her home in On, with an ache in her brave little heart that outweighed even Masanath's for heaviness.
"It would seem that he courteth a sentence to the mines likewise, and he needs but to go on as he hath begun to succeed most thoroughly. And it behooveth his friends to prevent him." He took Masanath's hand and, leaning from the saddle, whispered: "Ye are under the same roof thou and Hotep. Avoid him as though he were a pestilence."
Nechutes and Menes, by united efforts, barely prevented him from doing self-murder. The earnest attempts of the priest to quiet him were totally useless. Nothing could have been more shocking. The violent scene wrought Masanath's already over-strained nerves to the highest pitch of distress.
His voice rose to a shriek, and Hotep, putting an arm about him, hushed him with gentle authority and signed the courtier to obey. The physicians lifted the queen and bore her away. Seti stopped at Masanath's side and looked at her with compassion in his eyes. Har-hat came to him. "Seeing that thou hast won the pardon of thy father, am I not also included in the restoration of good feeling?
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