ds I closed his coffin and set him in his splendid tomb, where he
shall rest unharmed for ever till the day of the awakening. And Meriamun
and Meneptah reigned in Khem. But to Pharaoh she was very cold, though
he did her will in everything, and they had but one child, so that in a
while he wearied of her loveliness.

"But hers was the master-mind, and she ruled Pharaoh as she ruled all
else.

"For me, my lot was bettered; she talked much with me, and advanced me
to great dignity, so that I was the first Master Builder in Khem, and
Commander of the legion of Amen.

"Now it chanced that Meriamun made a feast, where she entertained
Pharaoh and Hataska sat beside him. She was the first lady about the
Queen's person, a beautiful but insolent woman, who had gained Pharaoh's
favour for the hour. Now wine worked so with the King that he toyed
openly with the lady Hataska's hand, but Meriamun the Queen took no
note, though Hataska, who had also drunk of the warm wine of the Lower
Land, grew insolent, as was her wont. She quaffed deep from her cup
of gold, and bade a slave bear it to the Queen, crying, 'Pledge me, my
sister.'

"The meaning of her message was plain to all who heard; this waiting
lady openly declared herself wife to Pharaoh and an equal of the Queen.
Now Meriamun cared nothing for Pharaoh's love, but for power she did
care, and she frowned, while a light shone in her dark eyes; yet she
took the cup and touched it with her lips.

"Presently she lifted her own cup in turn and toyed with it, then made
pretence to drink, and said softly to the King's paramour, who had
pledged her:

"'Pledge me in answer, Hataska, my servant, for soon, methinks, thou
shalt be greater than the Queen.'

"Now this foolish woman read her saying wrong, and took the golden cup
from the eunuch who bore it.

"With a little nod to the Queen, and a wave of her slim hand, Hataska
drank, and instantly, with a great cry, she fell dead across the board.
Then, while all the company sat in terror, neither daring to be silent
nor to speak, and while Meriamun smiled scornfully on the dark head
lying low among the roses on the board, Pharaoh leaped up, mad with
wrath, and called to the guards to seize the Queen. But she waved them
back, and, speaking in a slow, cold voice, she said:

"'Dare not to touch Khem's anointed Queen lest your fate be as _her_
fate. For thee, Meneptah, forget not thy marriage oath. What, am I
Queen, and shall thy wanto