the time
of sleep draws near. Come hither, my nephew, and kiss me on the brow,
remembering in your strength that a day will dawn when as I am, so shall
you be, if the gods spare you so long."

So I kissed him, not without fear, for the old man was unearthly. Then
he sent Karema from the place and bade me tell him my story, which I
did. Why he did this I cannot say, since he seemed to know it already
and once or twice corrected me in certain matters that I had forgotten,
for instance as to the exact words that I had used to the Great King in
my rage and as to the fashion in which I was tied in the boat. When I
had done, he said,

"So you gave the name of Amada to the Great King, did you? Well,
you could have done nothing else if you wished to go on living, and
therefore cannot be blamed. Yet before all is finished I think it will
bring you into trouble, Shabaka, since among many gifts, the gods did
not give that of reason to women. If so, bear it, since it is better to
have trouble and be alive than to have none and be dead, that is, for
those whose work is still to do in the world. And you, or rather Bes,
stole the White Signet of signets of which, although it is so simple and
ancient, there is not the like for power in the whole world. That
was well done since it will be useful for a while. And now Peroa has
determined to rebel against the King, which also is well done. Oh!
trouble not to tell me of that business for I know all. But what would
you learn of me, Shabaka?"

"I am instructed to learn from you the end of these great matters, my
Uncle."

"Are you mad, Shabaka, that you should think me a god who can read the
future?"

"Not at all, my Uncle, who know that you can if you will."

"Call the maiden," he said.

So Bes went out and brought her in.

"Be seated, Karema, there in front of the altar, and look into my eyes."

She obeyed and presently seemed to go to sleep for her head nodded. Then
he said,

"Wake, woman, look into the water in the bowl upon the altar and tell me
what you see."

She appeared to wake, though I perceived that this was not really so,
for she seemed a different woman with a fixed face that frightened me,
and wide and frozen eyes. She stared into the silver bowl, then spoke in
a new voice, as though some spirit used her tongue.

"I see myself crowned a queen in a land I hate," she said coldly, a
saying at which I gasped. "I am seated on a throne beside yonder dwarf,"
a saying