rkness gathered, as the evil
thoughts gathered in her heart, that was rent with love of him whom she
had won but to lose. Things had gone ill with her, to little purpose she
had sinned after such a fashion as may not be forgiven. Yet there was
hope. He had sworn that he would wed her when Pharaoh was dead, and when
Argive Helen had followed Pharaoh to the Shades. Should she shrink then
from the deed of blood? Nay, from evil to evil she would go. She laid
her hand upon the double-headed snake that wound her about, and spake
into the gloom:

"Osiris waits thee, Meneptah--Osiris waits thee! The Shades of those who
have died for thy love, Helen, are gathering at the gates. It shall be
done. Pharaoh, thou diest to-night. To-morrow night, thou Goddess Helen,
shall all thy tale be told. _Man_ may not harm thee indeed, but shall
fire refuse to kiss thy loveliness? Are there no _women's_ hands to
light thy funeral pile?"

Then she rose, and calling her ladies, was attired in her most splendid
robes, and caused the uraeus crown to be set upon her head, the snake
circlet of power on her brow, the snake girdle of wisdom at her heart.
And now she hid somewhat in her breast, and passed to the ante-chamber,
where the Princes gathered for the feast.

Pharaoh looked up and saw her loveliness. So glorious she seemed in her
royal beauty that his heart forgot its woes, and once again he loved her
as he had done in years gone by, when she conquered him at the Game of
Pieces, and he had cast his arms about her and she stabbed him.

She saw the look of love grow on his heavy face, and all her gathered
hate rose in her breast, though she smiled gently with her lips and
spake him fair.

They sat at the feast and Pharaoh drank. And ever as he drank she smiled
upon him with her dark eyes and spake him words of gentlest meaning,
till at length there was nothing he desired more than that they should
be at one again.

Now the feast was done. They sat in the ante-chamber, for all were
gone save Meneptah and Meriamun. Then he came to her and took her hand,
looking into her eyes, nor did she say him nay.

There was a lute lying on a golden table, and there too, as it chanced,
was a board for the Game of Pieces, with the dice, and the pieces
themselves wrought in gold.

Pharaoh took up the gold king from the board and toyed with it in his
hand. "Meriamun," he said, "for these five years we have been apart,
thou and I. Thy love I have lost, as