Though the hour was late, they were awake there. Sarah with her own hands was washing swaddling-clothes for her son, and the servants were passing their time in eating, drinking, and music. When Rameses, pale from emotion, stood on the threshold, Sarah cried out, but soon calmed herself. "Be greeted, lord," said she, wiping her wet hands and bending to his feet. "Sarah, what is the name of thy son?" inquired he. She seized her head in terror. "What is thy son's name?" repeated he. "But thou knowest, lord, that it is Seti," answered she, with a voice almost inaudible. "Look me in the eyes." "O Jehovah!" whispered Sarah. "Thou seest that thou art lying. And now I will tell thee, my son, the son of the heir to the throne of Egypt, is called Isaac--and he is a Jew--a low Jew." "O God, O God of mercy!" cried Sarah, throwing herself at his feet. Rameses did not raise his head for an instant, but his face was gray. "I was forewarned," said he, "not to take a Jewess to my house. I was disgusted when I saw thy country place filled with Jews; but I kept my disgust in subjection, for I trusted thee. But thou, with thy Jews, hast stolen my son from me, thou child thief!" "The priests commanded that he should become a Jew," whispered Sarah, sobbing at the feet of Rameses. "The priests! What priests?" "The most worthy Herhor, the most worthy Mefres. They said that it must be so,--that thy son would become the first king of the Jews." "The priests? Mefres?" repeated the prince. "King of the Jews? But I have told thee that thy son would become the chief of my archers, my secretary. I told thee this, and thou, wretched woman, didst think that the title of king of the Jews was equal to that of my secretary and archer. Mefres--Herhor! Thanks to the gods that at last I understand those dignitaries and know what fate they are preparing for my descendants." He thought awhile, gnawing his lips. Suddenly he called with a powerful voice,-- "Hei, servants, warriors!" The room was filled in the twinkle of an eye. Sarah's serving-women came in, the scribe and manager of the house, then the slaves; finally, a few warriors with an officer. "Death!" cried Sarah, with a piercing voice. She rushed to the cradle, seized her son, and, standing in the corner of the room, called out,-- "Kill me; but I will not yield my son!" Rameses smiled. "Centurion," said he to the officer, "take that woman with her child and conduct her to the building where my household slaves dwell. That Jewess will not be mistress here; she is to be the servant of her who takes this place. "And thou, steward," said he, turning to the official, "see that the Jewess does not forget, to-morrow morning, to wash the feet of her mistress, who will come hither directly. If this serving-woman should prove stubborn, she is to receive stripes at command of her mistress. Conduct the woman to the servants' quarters."