o be more
cautious, drew nearer to him, pointed to his litter, and said in a low,
hurried tone:

"I am expected at the Sublime Porte, so listen. If Hosea's mission is
successful his people will return--the guilty with the innocent--and the
latter will suffer. Among the former we can include the whole of Hosea's
tribe, who call themselves the sons of Ephraim, from old Nun down to the
youth in your dwelling."

"We may spare them; but Mesu, too, is a Hebrew, and what we do to
him...."

"Will not occur in the public street, and it is child's play to sow
enmity between two men who desire to rule in the same sphere. I will
make sure that Hosea shall shut his eyes to the other's death;
but Pharaoh, whether his name is Meneptah or"--he lowered his
voice--"Siptah, must then raise him to so great a height--and he merits
it--that his giddy eyes will never discern aught we desire to conceal.
There is one dish that never palls on any man who has once tasted it."

"And what is that?"

"Power, Hornecht--mighty power! As ruler of a whole province, commander
of all the mercenaries in Aarsu's stead, he will take care not to break
with us. I know him. If I can succeed in making him believe Mesu has
wronged him--and the imperious man will afford some pretext for it--and
can bring him to the conviction that the law directs the punishment we
mete out to the sorcerer and the worst of his adherents, he will not
only assent but approve it."

"And if he fails in his mission?"

"He will return at any rate; for he would not be false to his oath. But
if Mesu, from whom we may expect anything, should detain him by force,
the boy will be of service to us; for Hosea loves him, his people value
his life, and he belongs to one of their noblest tribes. In any case
Pharaoh must threaten the lad; we will guard him, and that will unite
his uncle to us by fresh ties and lead him to join those who are angry
with the king."

"Excellent!"

"The surest way to attain our object will be by forging still another
chain. In short--now I beg you to be quiet, your temper is far too hot
for your grey hairs--in short, our Hebrew brother-in-arms, the saviour
of my life, the ablest man in the army, who is certain to win the
highest place, must be your son-in-law. Kasana's heart is his--my wife
has told me so." Hornecht frowned again, and struggled painfully to
control his anger. He perceived that he must overcome his objection to
giving his daughter to the man