not
for the striking of one of royal blood by chance, under which law it is
lawful for you to kill an Israelite without trial before the appointed
officers of Pharaoh."

"I am not learned. I do not know the law, O Prince. All that this woman
said is false."

"At least it is not false that yonder man lies dead and that you slew
him, as you yourself admit. Learn now, and let all Egypt learn, that
even an Israelite may not be murdered for no offence save that of
weariness and of paying back unearned blow with blow. Your blood shall
answer for his blood. Soldiers! Strike off his head."

The Nubians leapt upon him, and when I looked again Khuaka's headless
corpse lay by the corpse of the Hebrew Nathan and their blood was
mingled upon the steps of the temple.

"The business of the Court is finished," said the Prince. "Officers, see
that this woman is escorted to her own people, and with her the body of
her father for burial. See, too, upon your lives that no insult or harm
is done to her. Scribe Ana, accompany me hence to my house where I would
speak with you. Let guards precede and follow me."

He rose and all the people bowed. As he turned to go the lady Merapi
stepped forward, and falling upon her knees, said:

"O most just Prince, now and ever I am your servant."

Then we set out, and as we left the market-place on our way to the
palace of the Prince, I heard a tumult of voices behind us, some in
praise and some in blame of what had been done. We walked on in silence
broken only by the measured tramp of the guards. Presently the moon
passed behind a cloud and the world was dark. Then from the edge of the
cloud sprang out a ray of light that lay straight and narrow above us on
the heavens. Seti studied it a while and said:

"Tell me, O Ana, of what does that moonbeam put you in mind?"

"Of a sword, O Prince," I answered, "stretched out over Egypt and held
in the black hand of some mighty god or spirit. See, there is the blade
from which fall little clouds like drops of blood, there is the hilt of
gold, and look! there beneath is the face of the god. Fire streams from
his eyebrows and his brow is black and awful. I am afraid, though what I
fear I know not."

"You have a poet's mind, Ana. Still, what you see I see and of this I
am sure, that some sword of vengeance is indeed stretched out over
Egypt because of its evil doings, whereof this light may be the symbol.
Behold! it seems to fall upon the temples of the