Rei made a secret sign, and wondering greatly that a woman should
have the inner wisdom, the priest let him pass.

He came to the second gates.

"What wouldst thou?" said the priest who sat in the gates.

"I would go up into the presence of the Hathor."

"No woman hath willed to look upon the Hathor," said the priest.

Then again Rei made the secret sign, but still the priest wavered.

"Let me pass, thou foolish warden," said Rei. "I am a messenger from the
Gods."

"If thou art a mortal messenger, woman, thou goest to thy doom," said
the priest.

"On my head be it," answered Rei, and the priest let him pass wondering.

Now he stood before the doors of the Alabaster Shrine that glowed with
the light within. Still Rei paused not, only uttering a prayer that he
might be saved from the unseen swords; he lifted the latch of bronze,
and entered fearfully. But none fell upon him, nor was he smitten of
invisible spears. Before him swung the curtains of Tyrian web, but no
sound of singing came from behind the curtains. All was silence in the
Shrine. He passed between the curtains and looked up the Sanctuary. It
was lit with many hanging lamps, and by their light he saw the Goddess
Helen, seated between the pillars of her loom. But she wove no more at
the loom. The web of fate was rent by the Wanderer's hands, and lay on
either side, a shining cloth of gold. The Goddess Helen sat songless in
her lonely Shrine, and on her breast gleamed the Red Star of light that
wept the blood of men. Her head rested on her hand, and her heavenly
eyes of blue gazed emptily down the empty Shrine.

Rei drew near trembling, though she seemed to see him not at all, and at
last flung himself upon the earth before her. Now at length she saw him,
and spoke in her voice of music.

"Who art thou that dares to break in upon my sorrow?" she said
wonderingly. "Art thou indeed a woman come to look on one who by the
will of the Gods is each woman's deadliest foe?"

Then Rei raised himself saying:

"No woman am I, immortal Lady. I am Rei, that aged priest who met
thee two nights gone by the pylon gates, and led thee to the Palace of
Pharaoh. And I have dared to seek thy Shrine to tell thee that thou art
in danger at the hands of Meriamun the Queen, and also to give thee
a certain message with which I am charged by him who is named the
Wanderer."

Now Helen looked upon him wonderingly and spoke:

"Didst thou not but now name me immortal, Rei?