id cure herself by
touching my garment's hem; must I then descend to play the part of
sorcerer? I had behind me there, but now, a rabble of the wretched
imploring me, believing me all powerful, begging for them and theirs
unrealizable miracles. Should I then cheat them too, all those poor
wretches, promising what I know I cannot give? I came hither to make an
end of lies, not to replace them with others.

RHEOU [_with passion_] Ah! You would not lie. You would not lie to the
wretched. You would not lie to Mieris. You would lie to no one, is it
so?

SATNI. To no one.

RHEOU. We shall see! [_Calling right_] Yaouma!--Let them send Yaouma!
[_To Satni_] Not to her either, then? Good; if you speak the truth to
her, if you deny that you have supernatural power, if you force her to
believe you had no hand in the miracle that saved her yesterday, she
will give herself to the priests, or she will kill herself! What will
you do?

_Yaouma enters, she tries to prostrate herself before Satni,
who prevents her. In the meantime the Steward greatly moved
has come to whisper to Rheou._

RHEOU [_deeply moved_] He is there!

STEWARD. In person.

RHEOU. 'Tis an order of the Pharaoh then?

STEWARD. Yes.

RHEOU. I am troubled.

_He goes out with the Steward._

SATNI [_to Yaouma_] What is it ails you? Why are you so sad?

YAOUMA. You will want nothing more of me, now that you are a god.

SATNI. Be not afraid: I am not a god.

YAOUMA. Almost. 'Tis a daughter of the Pharaoh you will marry now.

SATNI. I will marry you.

YAOUMA. You will swear to.

SATNI. Yes.

YAOUMA. By Ammon?--[_Recollecting_] By your god?

SATNI. My god is not concerned with us.

YAOUMA. Who then is concerned with us?

SATNI. No one.

YAOUMA. You do not want to tell me. You treat me as a child--mocking me.

SATNI. Why do you need an oath? I love you, and you shall be my wife.

YAOUMA [_radiant_] I shall be your wife!--I, little Yaouma, I shall be
wife to a man whom the heavens obey!--[_A pause_] When I think that you
loosed the thunder for my sake--

SATNI. No, vain child, I did not loose the thunder.

YAOUMA. Yes, yes, yes--I understand. You want no one to know that you
have found the book of Thoth--fear not, I know how to hold my peace.
[_Coaxingly she puts her arms round Satni's neck and rubs her cheek
against his_] Tell me, how did you find it?

SATNI. I have not found the book of magic spells; besides, it would hav