lied indignantly. "Moreover, your talk
is childish. What throne can I ever sit on?"

A change fell upon her at his words. She ceased to be the melting,
passionate woman, and became once more the strong, far-seeing queen.

"Rames," she said, "you understand why, although it tears my heart, I am
sending you so far away and into so many dangers, do you not? It is to
save your life, for after what has chanced to-night in this fashion or
in that here you would certainly die, as, had it not been for that plan
of mine you must have died two hours ago. There are many who hate
you, Rames, and Pharaoh may recover, as I pray the gods he will, and
over-ride my will, for you have slain his guest who was brought here to
marry me."

"I understand all of these things, Queen."

"Then awake, Rames, look to the future and understand that also, if, as
I think, you have the wit. I am sending you with a strong escort, am
I not? Well, that King of Kesh is old and feeble, and you have a claim
upon his crown. Take it, man, and set it on your head, and as King of
Kesh ask the hand of Egypt's Queen in marriage. Then who would say you
nay--not Egypt's Queen, I think, or the people of Egypt who hunger for
the rich Southern Land which they have lost."

So she spoke, and as these high words passed her lips she looked so
splendid and so royal that, dazzled by the greatness of her majesty.
Rames bowed himself before her as before the presence of a god. Then,
aware that she was trying him in the balance of her judgment, he
straightened himself and spoke to her as prince speaks to prince.

"Star of Amen," he said, "it is true that though here we are but your
humble subjects, the blood of my father and of myself is as high as
yours, and perhaps more ancient, and it is true that now yonder Amathel
is dead, after my father, in virtue of those who went before us I have
more right than any other to the inheritance of Kesh. Queen, I hear your
words, I will take it if I can, not for its own sake, but to win you,
and if I fail you will know that I died doing my best. Queen, we part
and this is a far journey. Perhaps we may never meet again; at the best
we must be separated for long. Queen, you have honoured me with your
love, and therefore I ask a promise of you, not as a woman only, but
as Queen. I ask that however strait may be the circumstances, whatever
reasons of State may push you on, while I live you will take no other
man to husband--no, not even i