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She thought a moment, looking at the wizened but powerful-faced old magician, then answered: "I will take the oath and keep my share of it. See that you keep yours, Kaku, or it will be the worse for you, for women have their own evil power." "I know it, Merytra, and from the beginning the wise have held that the spirit dwells, not in the heart or brain or liver, but in the female tongue.
This is the command of the gods Let these twain be wed and take Egypt as their heritage, and call down upon it peace and greatness. But as for these murderers and wizards" and he pointed to Abi, to Kaku, and to Merytra "let them be placed in the sanctuary of Amen, to await what he shall send them."
Now go and take your terrors with you, for this dark conspirator, Merytra, waits in my chamber to unrobe me, and talk me to sleep with her pleasant jests and gossip." "Pharaoh has spoken, I go," said Asti in her quiet voice. "May Pharaoh's rest be sweet, and his awaking happy." That night Tua could not sleep.
The snare is strong and cunning, but, perchance, in my dreams he will show me how it may be broke." That night when the feast was ended Merytra, Pharaoh's favoured waiting-maid, did not return with the rest of the royal retinue to the temple where he lodged.
Let the Prince Abi be brought from his prison to the inner hall, for I would question him at once. Let the waiting-woman, Merytra, be brought also under guard with drawn swords." The officer of the watch bowed and departed to do the bidding of her Majesty, while others went to light the hall.
Then they both swore, touching their brows with the book, and as she looked up again, Merytra saw a strange, flame-like light pulse in the crystal globe that hung above her head, which became presently infiltrated with crimson flowing through it as blood might flow from a wound, till it glowed dull red, out of which redness a great eye watched her.
"It is very good," said Merytra when she had drunk, "but heavy. If I took much of that I think I should have 'rheumatism, too. Now tell me, old friend, am I safe, in this place? No, not from Pharaoh, he trusts me and lets me go where I will upon his business but from his royal brother. He used to have a long memory, and from the look of him I do not think that his temper has improved.
So giddy was the height at the top of this lofty tower that the houses beneath looked small and far away, and the sky quite near. "Behold Memphis and the Nile, and the wide lands of Egypt gleaming in the moonlight, and the Pyramids of the ancient kings. You wish to rule over all these, like myself do you not, Merytra? and if you obey me you shall do so." "And if I do not obey?"
She told him, and he pondered a while, then answered doubtfully: "I think it is a good omen; the royal consort sits beside her. Only why was his face hidden?" "I am sure I do not know," answered Merytra. "I think that strong, red wine of yours was doctored and has got into my head.
"That long-legged old astrologer with the painted cap who ran so fast when his master was taken? Why! he is nothing but a spy who has been in my pay for years; a charlatan who pretends to knowledge that he may win the secrets of his Prince. And Merytra, too, Merytra, who in bygone times warned me of this Abi's foolish plot.
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