who now are
gone. And as I wove, one passed the Ghosts and rent the web and stood
before me. It was he whom I await to-night, and after awhile I knew him
for Odysseus of Ithaca, Laertes' son. But as I looked on him and spake
with him, behold, I saw a spirit watching us, though he might not see
it, a spirit whose face I knew not, for no such man have I known in my
life days. Know then, Rei, that the face of the spirit was _thy_ face,
and its robes _thy_ robes."

Then once more Rei trembled in his fear.

"Now, Rei, I bid thee tell me, and speak the truth, lest evil come on
thee, not at my hands indeed, for I would harm none, but at the hands
of those Immortals who are akin to me. What did thy spirit yonder, in my
sacred shrine? How didst thou dare to enter and look upon my beauty and
hearken to my words?"

"Oh, great Queen," said Rei, "I will tell thee the truth, and I pray
thee let not the wrath of the Gods fall upon me. Not of my own will did
my spirit enter into thy Holy Place, nor do I know aught of what it saw
therein, seeing that no memory of it remains in me. Nay, it was sent of
her whom I serve, who is the mistress of all magic, and to her it made
report, but what it said I know not."

"And whom dost thou serve, Rei? And why did she send thy spirit forth to
spy on me?"

"I serve Meriamun the Queen, and she sent my spirit forth to learn what
befell the Wanderer when he went up against the Ghosts."

"And yet he said naught to me of this Meriamun. Say, Rei, is she fair?"

"Of all women who live upon the earth she is the very fairest."

"Of _all_, sayest thou, Rei? Look now, and say if Meriamun, whom
thou dost serve, is fairer than Argive Helen, whom thou dost name
the Hathor?" and she lifted her veil so that he saw the face that was
beneath.

Now when he heard that name, and looked upon the glory of her who is
Beauty's self, Rei shrank back till he went nigh to falling on the
earth.

"Nay," he said, covering his eyes with his hand; "nay thou art fairer
than she."

"Then tell me," she said, letting fall her veil again, "and for thine
own sake tell me true, why would Meriamun the Queen, whom thou servest,
know the fate of him who came up against the Ghosts?"

"Wouldst thou know, Daughter of Amen?" answered Rei; "then I will tell
thee, for through thee alone she whom I serve and love can be saved from
shame. Meriamun doth also love the man whom thou wouldst wed."

Now when the Golden Helen heard these w