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. You may remember a certain slap
in the face and how I paid him back for it."

"He never knew it was you, Merytra. Being a mass of self-conceit, he
thought that you ran away because he had banished you from his royal
presence and presented you--to me."

"Oh, he thought that, did he! What a vain fool!"

"It was a very dirty trick you played me, Merytra," went on Kaku with
indignation, for the rich wine coursing through his blood revived the
sting of his loss. "You know how fond I always was of you, and indeed am
still," he added, gazing at her admiringly.

"I felt that I was not worthy of so learned and distinguished a man,"
she replied, looking at him with her dark eyes. "I should only have
hampered your life, dear Kaku, so I went into the household of that poor
creature, Pharaoh, instead--Pharaoh's Nunnery we call it. But you will
not explain the facts to Abi, will you?"

"No, I think not, Merytra, if we continue to get on as well as we do
at present. But now you are rested, so let us come to business, for
otherwise you will have to stop here all night and Pharaoh would be
angry."

"Oh, to Set with Pharaoh! Though it is true that he is a good paymaster,
and knows the value of a clever woman. Now, what is this business?"

The old astrologer's face grew hard and cunning. Going to the door he
made sure that it was locked and drew a curtain over it. Then he took a
stool and sat himself down in front of Merytra, in such a position that
the light fell on her face while his own remained in shadow.

"A big business, Merytra, and by the gods I do not know that I should
trust you with it. You tricked me once, you have tricked Pharaoh for
years; how do I know that you will not play the same game once more
and earn me an order to cut my own throat, and so lose life and soul
together?"

"If you think that, Kaku, perhaps you will unlock the door and give me
an escort home, for we are only wasting time."

"I don't know what to think, for you are as cunning as you are
beautiful. Listen, woman," he continued in a savage whisper, and
clasping her by the wrist. "If you are false, I tell you that you shall
die horribly, for if the knife and poison fail, I am no charlatan, I
have arts. I can make you turn loathsome to the sight and waste away, I
can haunt you at ni