her in her trial, if such should come;
and if strength fails and the gods desert her, then hide her in the web
of the magic that you have, and preserve her undefiled, for so shall I
bless your name for ever."

"You fly at a rare bird, Rames, and there are many stronger hawks about
besides that one you slew; yes, royal eagles who may strike down the
pair of you. Yet I will do my best, who have long foreseen this hour,
and who pray that before my eyes shut in death, they may yet behold you
seated on the throne of your forefathers, crowned with power and with
such love and beauty as have never yet been given to man. Now hide that
ring upon your heart and your secret in it, as I shall, lest you should
return no more to Egypt. Moreover, follow your royal Star and no other.
Whatever counsel she may have given you, follow it also, stirring not to
right or left, for I say that in that maiden breast of hers there dwells
the wisdom of the gods."

Then holding up her hands over his head as though in blessing, Asti,
too, turned and left him.

So Rames went and was no more seen, and by degrees the talk as to the
matter of his victory over the Prince of Kesh, and as to his appointment
by the whim of the maiden Queen to command the splendid embassy of
atonement which she had despatched to the old King, the dead man's
father, died away for lack of anything to feed on.

Tua kept her counsel well, nor was aught known of that midnight
interview with the young Count her general. Moreover, Napata was far
away, so far that starting at the season when it did, the embassy could
scarce return till two years had gone by, if ever it did return. Also
few believed that whoever came back, Rames would be one of them, since
it was said openly that so soon as he was beyond the frontiers of
Egypt, the soldiers had orders to kill him and take on his body as a
peace-offering.

Indeed, all praised the wit and wisdom of the Queen, who by this politic
device, had rid herself of a troublesome business with as little scandal
as possible, and avoided staining her own hands in the blood of a
foster-brother. Had she ordered his death forthwith, they said, it would
have been supposed also that she had put him away because he was of a
royal race, one who, in the future, might prove a rival, or at least
cause some rebellion.

Meanwhile greater questions filled the mouths of men. Would Pharaoh die
and leave Neter-Tua, the young and lovely, to hold his thro