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Whenever she shut her eyes visions rose before her mind, terrifying, fantastic visions in all of which the fat and hideous Abi played a part. Thus she saw again the scene at her father's fatal feast to the Priest of Kesh, when Asti by her magic had caused the likeness of a monkey to come from the juggler's vase.
"Who is that fellow?" asked Abi, and as he spoke the figure cried aloud in a great voice: "Listen, Councillors, Captains, and Soldiers of Egypt, to the command of Amen, spoken by the lips of his messenger, Kepher the Wanderer. Lift no sword against Rames, Lord of Kesh, for he is my servant, and shall be Pharaoh over you, and husband of your Queen, and father of kings to come.
Changed were both of them, indeed, since they had plotted the death of their guest and king at Memphis, for now Abi was so worn with work and fear and wretchedness, that his royal robes hung about him in loose folds, while Kaku had become an old, old man, who trembled as he walked. "Is the business finished, Officer?" asked Abi impatiently.
It was as though she were protected by some unseen strength, that caught the sword cuts and turned aside the points of spears. Yet it availed not, for the men of Abi were a multitude, and the royal guard but very few. Slowly, an ever-lessening band, they were pressed back, first to the walls of the old temple of Sekhet, and then within its outer court.
"I did not leave your camp who never tarried there, and who for two long years have set no foot upon the holy soil of Egypt. No, not since I fled from Memphis to save myself from death, or what is worse the defilement of a forced marriage with Abi, my Uncle, and Pharaoh's murderer." Now the High-Priest turned and stared at those behind him, and all who were present stared at the Queen.
Neither Abi nor any of his sons proposed for my hand when the others did, therefore I suspected nothing " "After the fashion of women who have already given their hearts, Queen, and forget that they have other things to give a kingdom, for instance. The snake does not roar like the lion, yet it is more to be feared."
He seemed to wake up from a stupor when his host opened a door and exclaimed, "This is the feasting-chamber." A scene of splendor burst upon the eyes of Abi Fressah. He rubbed his hands in glee and was ready to forget and forgive the discomforts of the past few hours. The dining-room presented a magnificent appearance, with its gorgeous hangings, its many lamps, and its marble floor.
Look, I will show you their journeyings on this scroll and you shall see where they eat you up yonder, yes, yonder over the Valley of dead Kings, though twenty years and more must go by ere then, and take this for your comfort, during those years you shine alone," and he began to unfold a papyrus roll. Abi snatched it from him, crumpled it up and threw it in his face. "You cheat!" he said.
I saw him do it, and you set him there. Wretch, I will pay you back for this evil trick," and springing at Kaku, she tore of his astrologer's cap, and the wig beneath it, and beat his bald head with them till he cried for mercy. It was at this moment that the door opened, and through it, breathless, white with terror, half-clothed, appeared none other than the Prince Abi.
"The conqueror of the conquered?" she repeated after him in a musing voice. "Should you not have said the murderer of the murdered and his seed? Nay, Prince Abi, you are wrong.
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