d suddenly:

"You slew Mermes when he was weak with wounds, did you not, and he was
my foster-father. Well, well, it was done in war, and you must be
a brave man, as brave as you are handsome, for otherwise you would
scarcely have ventured here where a word of mine would give you to your
death. And now get you gone, Friend, back to my Lord's daughter who is
your wife, and if you dare--tell her where you have been and why, you
who are so brave a man," and once more she laughed.

Again he began his passionate implorings, begging for some token, till
at length she seemed to melt and take pity on him, for stretching out
her hand, she chose a flower from the many that grew near, and gave
it to him, then pointed to the trees that hid the wall, among which
presently he vanished, reeling in the delirium of his joy.

She watched him go, smiling very strangely, then, still smiling, looked
down at the bush whence she had plucked the flower, and Kaku noted that
it was one used only by the embalmers to furnish coronals for the dead.

But Abi noted no such thing. Forgetting his quarrel with Kaku and all
else, he gasped, and foamed in his jealous rage, muttering that he would
kill that captain, yes, and the false Queen, too, who dared to listen
to a tale of love and give the lover flowers. Yes, were she ten times
Pharaoh he would kill her, as he had the right to do, and, the naked
sword still in his hand, he turned to leave the place.

"If that is your will, Lord," said Kaku in a strained voice, "bide
here."

"Why, man?" asked Abi.

"Because her Majesty comes," he answered, "and this chamber is quiet and
fitting. None enter it save myself."

As he spoke the words the door opened, and closed again, and before them
stood Neter-Tua, Star of Amen.

In the dusk of that room the first thing that seemed to catch her eye
was the bared blade in Abi's hand. For a moment she looked at it and
him, also at Kaku crouching in the corner, then asked in her quiet
voice:

"Why is your sword drawn, O Husband?"

"To kill you, O Wife," he answered furiously, for his rage mastered him.

She continued to look at him a little while and said, smiling in her
strange fashion:

"Indeed? But why more now than at any other time? Has Kaku's counsel
given you courage?"

"Need you ask, shameless woman? Does not this window-place open on to
yonder garden?"

"Oh! I remember, that captain of yours--he who slew Mermes, your
daughter's husband who made