e figure of a man, who was watching her
replace the ornament in her robe. While I hesitated a moment the man
spoke and I knew the voice for that of Seti. Then again I thought of
flight, but being somewhat timid by nature, feared to show myself until
it was too late, thinking that afterward the Prince would make me the
target of his wit. So I sat close and still, hearing and seeing all
despite myself.

"What gem is that, Lady, which you admire and cherish so tenderly?"
asked Seti in his slow voice that so often hid a hint of laughter.

She uttered a little scream and springing up, saw him.

"Oh! my lord," she exclaimed, "pardon your servant. I was sitting
here in the cool, as you gave me leave to do, and the moon was so
bright--that--I wished to be see if by it I could read the writing on
this scarab."

Never before, thought I to myself, did I know one who read with her
lips, though it is true that first she used her eyes.

"And could you, Lady? Will you suffer me to try?"

Very slowly and colouring, so that even the moonlight showed her
blushes, she withdrew the ornament again and held it towards him.

"Surely this is familiar to me? Have I not seen it before?" he asked.

"Perhaps. I wore it that night in the temple, your Highness."

"You must not name me Highness, Lady. I have no longer any rank in
Egypt."

"I know--because of--my people. Oh! it was noble."

"But about the scarabaeus----" he broke in, with a wave of his hand.
"Surely it is the same with which the bandage was made fast upon your
hurt--oh! years ago?"

"Yes, it is the same," she answered, looking down.

"I thought it. And when I gave it to you, I said some words that seemed
to me well spoken at the time. What were they? I cannot remember. Have
you also forgotten?"

"Yes--I mean--no. You said that now I had all Egypt beneath my foot,
speaking of the royal cartouche upon the scarab."

"Ah! I recall. How true, and yet how false the jest, or prophecy."

"How can anything be both true and false, Prince?"

"That I could prove to you very easily, but it would take an hour or
more, so it shall be for another time. This scarab is a poor thing,
give it back to me and you shall have a better. Or would you choose this
signet? As I am no longer Prince of Egypt it is useless to me."

"Keep the scarab, Prince. It is your own. But I will not take the ring
because it is----"

"----useless to me, and you would not have that which is without value
t