The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-18

which XII broke by saying:
= "Why seek that from Ana
which XII himself is eager to give?
Ana is learned, but is his heart the
heart of XII? Above all, why tell
him that XII, the humblest Of your
servants, is your enemy"
Now Merapi Strengthened herself,
looked into his eyes, and answered:
Have l told Ana aught that he did
not know? Did not Ana hear the
last words you said to me in the
temple of Anon at Tanis?"
Doubtless he heard them, lady,
and therefore / am glad that he is
here to hear their meaning. Lady
Merapi, at that moment /, the Sac
rificer to Anon, was f1lled-not
with my own spirit, but with the
angry spirit Of the god whom you
had humbled as never before had
befaIlen him in Egypt. The god
through me demanded Of you the
secret of your magic, and promised
you his hate If you refused. Lady.
you have his hate, but mine you
have not, since also have his hate
because l, and he through me, have
been worsted by your prophets.
Lady, we are feIIow-travellers in
the Valley Of Trouble"
She gaZed at him steadily, and !
could see that of all that passed his
lips she believed not one word.
Making no answer to him and his
talk Of Anon, she asked only:
why do you come here to do me
i'll who have done you none"
you are mistaken, lady" he re-
piled. 81 come here to refuge from
Anon, and from his servant Pha-
raoh. whom Anon drives on to ruin.
know we'll that, If you will it, you
can whisper in the ear Of the
Prince and presently he will put
me forth. Only then and he
looked over her head to where the
nurse stood rocking the sleeping
child.
'Then what, magician?"
Giving no answer. he turned to
me.
Learned Ana, do you remember
meeting me at Tanis one night?"
shook my head, though l
guessed we'll enough what night he
meant.
"Your memory weakens, learned
Ana. or. rather. is confused, for we
met often. did we not?"
Then he stared at the staff in his
hand. stared also, because !
could not help it, and saw, or
thought I saw, the dead wood be-
gin to swell and curve. This was
enough for me and ! said hastily:
"If you mean the night of the
coronation, do recalI'-
"Ah! l thought you would. You,
learned Ana, who like all Scribes
observe so closely, will have noted
how little Ihings-such as the scent
of a flower, or the passing OF bird,
or even the writhing Of a snake in
fine dust-often bring back to the
mind events or words it has for
gotten long ago.
"Well-what of our meeting?' /
broke in hastily.
Nothing at all-or only this.
lust before it you were talking
with the Hebrew Jabez, the lady
Merapi's uncle, we're you nOt?"
Eyes. was talking with him in
an open place, alone"
mot so, learned Scribe, for you
know we are never alone-Quite.
Could you but see it, every grain
of sand has an ear"
"Be pleased TO explain, 0 XII"
NAY. Ana. il would be too long,
and short jests are ever the best
As / have told you, you were not
alone, for though there were some
words that / did not catch, ] heard
much of what passed between you
and JabeZ."
"What did you .hear?" l asked
wrathfully. and next instant wished
that had bitten through my tongue
before ito shaped the words.
Much. much. Let me think.
You spoke about the lady Merapi.
and whether she would do well TO
bide at Memphis i'm the shadow Of
the Prince, or TO return 10 Goshen
into the shadow of certain for
get the name. Jabez, a well-in.