sence, and he came
unhelmeted, in all his splendour, the goodliest man that had ever been
seen in Khem. He was of no great height, but very great of girth, and of
strength unmatched, and with the face of one who had seen what few have
seen and lived. The beauty of youth was gone from him, but his face had
the comeliness of a warrior tried on sea and land; the eyes were of a
valour invincible, and no woman could see him but she longed to be his
love.

As he entered murmurs of amazement passed over all the company, and all
eyes were fixed on him, save only the weary and wandering eyes of the
listless Meriamun. But when she chanced to lift her face, and gaze on
him, they who watch the looks of kings and queens saw her turn grey as
the dead, and clutch with her hand at her side. Pharaoh himself saw
this though he was not quick to mark what passed, and he asked her if
anything ailed her, but she answered:--

"Nay, only methinks the air is sick with heat and perfume. Greet thou
this stranger." But beneath her robe her fingers were fretting all the
while at the golden fringes of her throne.

"Welcome, thou Wanderer," cried Pharaoh, in a deep and heavy voice,
"welcome! By what name art thou named, and where dwell thy people, and
what is thy native land?"

Bowing low before Pharaoh, the Wanderer answered, with a feigned tale,
that his name was Eperitus of Alybas, the son of Apheidas. The rest of
the story, and how he had been taken by the Sidonians, and how he had
smitten them on the seas, he told as he had told it to Rei. And he
displayed his helmet with the spear-point fast in it. But when she saw
this Meriamun rose to her feet as if she would be gone, and then fell
back into her seat even paler than before.

"The Queen, help the Queen, she faints," cried Rei the Priest, whose
eyes had never left her face. One of her ladies, a beautiful woman,
ran to her, knelt before her, and chafed her hands, till she came to
herself, and sat up with angry eyes.

"Let be!" she said, "and let the slave who tends the incense be beaten
on the feet. Nay, I will remain here, I will not to my chamber. Let be!"
and her lady drew back afraid.

Then Pharaoh bade men lead the Sidonian out, and slay him in the
market-place for his treachery; but the man, whose name was Kurri, threw
himself at the feet of the Wanderer, praying for his life. The Wanderer
was merciful, when the rage of battle was over, and his blood was cool.

"A boon, O Pharaoh