gone to the gods, you lying cur, and talk it over with
them," answered Abi, lifting the sword, "for at least she will not blame
me if I send you there."

"Mercy, mercy!" gasped Kaku, sprawling on the ground, while his lord
held the sword above his bald head, thinking that he would choose speech
rather than death.

It was at this moment, while the astrologer's fate trembled in the
balance, that a sound of voices reached their ears, and above them
the ring of a light, clear laugh which they knew well. Forgetting his
purpose, Abi stepped to the window-place, and looked through the opening
of the shutters. Presently he turned, beckoning to Kaku, and whispered:

"Come and look; there is always time for you to die."

The Vizier heard, and, creeping on his hands and knees to the
window-place, raised himself and peeped through the shutter. This
was what he saw. In the walled garden below, the secret garden of the
palace, stood the queen Neter-Tua, and the sunlight piercing through the
boughs of a flowering tree, fell in bright bars upon her beauty. She was
not alone, for before her knelt a man wearing the rich robes of a noble.
Kaku knew him at once, for although still young, he was Abi's favourite
captain, an officer whom he loved, and had raised to high place
because of his wit and valour, having given him one of his daughters
in marriage. Also he had played a chief part in the great plot against
Pharaoh, and it was he who had dealt the death-blow to Mermes, the
husband of the lady Asti.

Now he was playing another part, namely that of lover to the Queen,
for he clasped the hem of her robe in his hands, and kissed it with his
lips, and pleaded with her passionately. They could catch some of his
words.

He had risked his life to climb the wall. He worshipped her. He could
not live without her. He was ready to do her bidding in all things--to
gather a band and slay Abi; it would be easy, for every man was jealous
of the Prince, and thought him quite unworthy of her. Let her give him
her love, and he would make her sole Pharaoh of Egypt again, and be
content to serve her as a slave. At least let her say one kind word to
him.

Thus he spoke, wildly, imploringly, like a man that is drunk with
passion and knows not what he says or does, while Neter-Tua listened
calmly, and now and again laughed that light, low laugh of hers.

At length he rose and strove to take her hand, but, still laughing, she
waved him back, then sai