d to the play.' At her words of evil omen, he frowned. But
he took the field and readily, for he knew the game well.

"She moved in answer heedlessly enough, and afterwards she played at
random and carelessly, pushing the pieces about with little skill. And
so he won this first game quickly, and crying, '_Pharaoh is dead_,'
swept the pieces from the board. 'See how I better thee,' he went on in
mockery. 'Thine is a woman's game; all attack and no defence.'

"'Boast not yet, Meneptah,' she said. 'There are still two sets to play.
See, the board is set and I take the field.'

"This time the game went differently, for the Prince could scarce make
a prisoner of a single piece save of one temple and two bowmen only, and
presently it was the turn of Meriamun to cry '_Pharaoh is dead_,' and
to sweep the pieces from the board. This time Meneptah did not boast but
scowled, while I set the board and the scribe wrote down the game upon
his tablets. Now it was the Prince's turn to take the field.

"'In the name of holy Thoth,' he cried, 'to whom I vow great gifts of
victory.'

"'In the name of holy Pasht,' she made answer, 'to whom I make daily
prayer.' For, being a maid, she swore by the Goddess of Chastity, and
being Meriamun, by the Goddess of Vengeance.

"''Tis fitting thou should'st vow by her of the Cat's Head,' he said,
sneering.

"'Yes; very fitting,' she answered, 'for perchance she'll lend me her
claws. Play thou, Prince Meneptah.'

"And he played, and so well that for a while the game went against her.
But at length, when they had struggled long, and Meriamun had lost the
most of her pieces, a light came into her face as though she had found
what she sought. And while the Prince called for wine and drank, she lay
back in her chair and looked upon the board. Then she moved so shrewdly
and upon so deep a plan that he fell into the trap that she had laid for
him, and could never escape. In vain he vowed gifts to the holy Thoth,
and promised such a temple as there was none in Khem.

"'Thoth hears thee not; he is the God of lettered men,' said Meriamun,
mocking him. Then he cursed and drank more wine.

"'Fools seek wit in wine, but only wise men find it,' quoth she again.
'Behold, Royal brother, _Pharaoh is dead_, and I have won the match, and
beaten thee at thine own game. Rei, my servant, give me that circlet;
nay, not my own, the double one, which the divine Prince wagered. So set
it on my brow, for it is mine,