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Yet it may happen that through my niece Merapi, on whose head the evil word has fallen, a great sorrow may come to both him and her. Therefore, perhaps, although setting this against that, she may be wise to stay in the house of Seti, he, on the balance, may be wise to turn her from his doors." "What sorrow?"
A crowd thrust the guard aside, broke down the gates and burst into the palace, humbly demanding that the lady Merapi would come to pray for them, yet showing by their mien that if she would not come they meant to take her. "What is to be done?" asked Seti of Ki and Bakenkhonsu.
Now at this Laban grew angry, as I could see he was prone to do, and stretched out his hand as though to push Seti aside and seize Merapi. "Have a care, man, said the Prince, while I, throwing down the straw, drew my sword and sprang between them, crying: "Slave, would you lay hands upon the Prince of Egypt?"
I pray you be careful, lest you should fall in love with one who is already affianced." I only looked at him in answer, and as I looked I bethought me of the words of Ki the Magician. So, I think, did the Prince; at least he laughed not unhappily and turned away. For my part I rested ill that night, and when at last I slept, it was to dream of Merapi making her prayer in the rays of the moon.
"Do what you will or can, woman, and make an end, for almost it is the moment of dawn when the temple worship opens." Then Merapi clasped her hands, and looking upwards, prayed aloud very sweetly and simply, saying: "O God of my fathers, trusting in Thee, I, a poor maid of Thy people Israel, have set the life Thou gavest me in Thy Hand.
So Ki took up his abode with us, in the same lodgings as Bakenkhonsu, and almost every day I would meet them walking in the garden, since I, who was of the Prince's table, except when he ate with the lady Merapi, did not take my food with them. Then we would talk together about many subjects.
While he mused thus and, having no comfort to offer, I listened sad at heart, Merapi entered, and a moment after her the wide-eyed messenger whom we had seen in Pharaoh's Court, and her uncle Jabez the cunning merchant. She bowed low to Seti, and smiled at me. Then the other two appeared, and with small salutation the messenger began to speak. "You know my demand, Prince," he said.
Prince Seti, does your Highness think that this was a kind jest to practise upon one alone and in fear?" "Lady Merapi," he answered smiling, "be not wroth, for at least it was a good one and you have told us nothing that we did not know. You may remember that at Tanis you said that you were affianced and there was that in your voice . Suffer me now to tend this wound of yours."
"We are come out to search for your Highness," he said, "fearing lest some hurt had befallen you." "I thank you, Cousin," answered the Prince, "but the hurt has befallen another, not me." "That is well, your Highness," said the Count, studying Merapi with a smile. "Where is the lady wounded? Not in the breast, I trust." "No, Cousin, in the foot, which is why she travels with me in this chariot."
When Merapi heard them she went half mad, weeping and wringing her hands. I asked her what she feared. She answered death, which was near to all of us. I said: "If so, there are worse things, Lady." "For you mayhap you are faithful and good in your own fashion, but not for me. Do you not understand, friend Ana, that I am one who has broken the law of the God I was taught to worship?"
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