“Strange that this mother’s heart should hide more might than can be boasted by all the gods of Egypt. Strange that those mother’s eyes can rive the ancient glory of Amon into dust!” Ki said to me in so low a voice that it almost seemed as though I heard his thought and not his words, which perhaps indeed I did. Now we stood in front of these three, and the sun being behind us, for it was still early, the shadow of the cloaked Ki fell upon a babe and lay there. A hateful fancy came to me. It looked like the evil form of an embalmer bending over one new dead. The babe felt it, opened its large eyes and wailed. Merapi saw it, and snatched up her child. Seti too rose from his seat, exclaiming, “Who comes?” Thereon, to my amazement, Ki prostrated himself and uttered the salutation which may only be given to the King of Egypt: “Life! Blood! Strength! Pharaoh! Pharaoh! Pharaoh!” “Who dares utter those words to me?” said Seti. “Ana, what madman do you bring here?” “May it please the Prince, _he_ brought _me_ here,” I replied faintly. “Fellow, tell me who bade you say such words, than which none were ever less welcome.” “Those whom I serve, Prince.” “And whom do you serve?” “The gods of Egypt.” “Then, man, I think the gods must need your company. Pharaoh does not sit at Memphis, and were he to hear of them——” “Pharaoh will never hear them, Prince, until he hears all things.” They stared at each other. Then, as I had done by the gate Seti rubbed his eyes, and said: “Surely this is Ki. Why, then, did you look otherwise just now?” “The gods can change the fashion of their messenger a thousand times in a flash, if so they will, O Prince.” Now Seti’s anger passed, and turned to laughter. “Ki, Ki,” he said, “you should keep these tricks for Court. But, since you are in the mood, what salutation have you for this lady by my side?” Ki considered her, till she who ever feared and hated him shrank before his gaze. “Crown of Hathor, I greet you. Beloved of Isis, shine on perfect in the sky, shedding light and wisdom ere you set.” Now this saying puzzled me. Indeed, I did not fully understand it until Bakenkhonsu reminded me that Merapi’s name was Moon of Israel, that Hathor, goddess of love, is crowned with the moon in all her statues, that Isis is the queen of mysteries and wisdom, and that Ki who thought Merapi perfect in love and beauty, also the greatest of all sorceresses, was likening her to these. “Yes,” I answered, “but what did he mean when he talked about her setting?” “Does not the moon always set, and is it not sometimes eclipsed?” he asked shortly. “So does the sun,” I answered. “True; so does the sun! You are growing wise, very wise indeed, friend Ana. Oho—ho!” To return: When Seti heard these words, he laughed again, and said: “I must think that saying over, but it is clear that you have a pretty turn for praise. Is it not so, Merapi, Crown of Hathor, and Holder of the wisdom of Isis?”