t Pithom, also the governor over the
treasure-city, his soldiers, and others, who know the secret by now.

"I will give thee the tale now, and the proof thereafter, if thou
believest me not.

"Last night, I lay under the tent of a son of Israel, at Pithom. When
I arose, two hours before dawn, horsemen began to gallop through the
city toward the south. The inhabitants were aroused; there was much
running to and fro, and the inn was full of lights.

"We approached, and when the tumult had died and the Egyptians were so
full of the tidings that they were glad to relieve themselves even to
an Israelite, I asked and learned this story. Many times afterward, on
my way hither, I heard it from the lips of men whom I passed, so I am
not deceived.

"Seven days agone, under an evil star, a veiled woman came to the
temple of Bast, in the village of image-makers, and made offerings to
the idol. She remained in the shrine, praying, for a time without
reason, as though she pretended to worship, until a certain space
should elapse. At the end of the hour in which she came, another
woman, closely covered, her mouth hidden, entered and knelt near her.
In a little they arose and went forth together, and Jambres, who is
priest at the little temple, grown suspicious by reason of their
behavior, looked after them. The wind swayed the garments of the
second stranger, and showed the foot and ankle of a man. Filled with
wonderment, Jambres laid aside his priest's robes and garbing himself
like a wayfarer, followed. They left the village, going east where the
road leadeth along the canal, which is hidden by the sprouts of young
trees. Farther up the way were servitors who waited for the man and
woman, but the two stepped out of ear-shot, and sat by the road to talk.

"Jambres, hidden in the fringe of bushes behind, heard them.

"They laid a snare. And thou, O Prince, wast to be trapped therein."

Seti's eyes were veiled and his face showed a heightening of color.

"Thou wast to come to the temple in the village of image-makers with
treasure to give into the hands of Moses. Thy message to my brother
was to be delivered by the Princess Ta-user. She delivered it not.
The word she should have brought came to Moses by a son of Belial, a
godless Hebrew, sent by Jambres, for the brotherhood of priests would
have had Moses come to the temple, for their own ends. But the
servants of the Lord God of Israel are keen-eyed and they know