oves. See,
now, I will dance and sing to you as once I sang to the Prince of Kesh
before the sword of Rames took away his life, so that you may judge of
me, Abi, you, who have looked upon so many lovely women."

As she spoke, very slowly, so slowly that they could scarcely see her
move, she glided from the throne, and standing before them, began to
move her feet and body, and to chant a song.

What were the words of that song none could ever remember, but to every
man there present it opened a door in his heart, and brought back the
knowledge of youth. She whom he had loved best danced before him, her
tender hands caressed him; the words she sang were sighs which the dead
had whispered in his ears. Even to Abi, old, unwieldy and steeped in
cunning, these soft visions came, although it is true that it seemed to
him that this lovely singer led him to a precipice, and that when she
ceased her song and appeared to vanish, to seek her he leapt into the
clouds that rushed beneath.

Now the dance was done, and the last echoes of the music died away
against the ancient walls whence the images of Sekhet the cat-headed
watched them with her cruel smile of vengeance. The dance was done, and
the beautiful dancer stood before them unflushed, unheated, but laughing
gently.

"Now go, divine Prince," she said, "and you his followers, go, all of
you, and leave me to my lonely house, until Pharaoh sends for me to
share that new realm which he inherits beyond the West."

But they would not go and could not if they would, for some power bound
them to her, while, as for Abi he scarce could take his eyes from her,
but heedless of who heard them, babbled out his passion at her feet,
while the rest glowered on him jealously. She listened always smiling
that same smile that was so sweet, yet so inhuman. Then when he stopped
exhausted, at last she spoke, saying:

"What! do you love now more greatly than you fear, as the divine Prince
of Kesh loved after Amen's Star had sung to him. May your fate be
happier, O noble Abi, but that, since it is not lawful that I should
tell it to you, you shall discover. Abi, there shall be a royal marriage
in Memphis of such joy and feasting as has not been known in the history
of the Northern or the Southern Land, and for your allotted span you
shall sit by the side of Egypt's Queen and shine in her light. Have you
not earned the place by right of blood, O conqueror of Pharaoh, and did
not Pharaoh promise