"He wore a jacket with yellow and black stripes, a cap of the same colors, and a blue and red apron," answered the doorkeeper. Both priests and the nomarch began to wonder. Then they brought in Sarah's servants, who repeated exactly the same description of the prince's dress. The nomarch's eyes flashed with delight, but on the face of the holy Mefres confusion was evident. "I will swear," put in the worthy nomarch, "that the prince wore a white jacket and a purple apron with gold fringe." "Now, most worthy men," said the chief of police, "be pleased to come with me to the prison. There we shall see one more witness." They went to a subterranean hall, where under a window stood a great cage covered with linen. The chief threw back the linen with his stick, and those present saw a woman lying in a corner. "But this is the Lady Kama!" cried the nomarch. It was indeed Kama, sick and changed very greatly. When she rose at sight of the dignitaries, and appeared in the light, those present saw that her face had bronze-colored spots on it. Her eyes seemed wandering. "Kama," said the chief, "the goddess Astaroth has touched thee with leprosy." "It was not the goddess!" said she, with a changed voice. "It was the low Asiatics, who threw in a tainted veil to me. Oh, I am unfortunate!" "Kama," continued the chief, "our most famous high priests, Sem and Mefres, have taken compassion on thee. If thou wilt tell the truth, they will pray for thee, and perhaps the all-mighty Osiris will turn from thee misfortune. There is still time, the disease is only beginning, and our gods have great power." The sick woman fell on her knees, and pressing her face against the grating, said in a broken voice,-- "Have compassion on me! I have renounced Phœnician gods, and to the end of life will serve the gods of Egypt. Only avert from me--" "Answer, but answer truly," said the chief, "and the gods will not refuse thee their favor. Who killed the child of the Jewess Sarah?" "The traitor, Lykon, the Greek. He was a singer in our temple, and said that he loved me. But he has rejected me, the infamous traitor, and seized my jewels." "Why did Lykon kill the child?" "He wanted to kill the prince, but not finding him in the palace, he ran to Sarah's villa." "How did the criminal enter a house that was guarded?" "Dost thou not know that Lykon resembles the prince? They are as much alike as two leaves of one palm-tree." "How was Lykon dressed that night?" "He wore a jacket in yellow and black stripes, a cap of the same material, and a red and blue apron. Do not torment me; return me my health! Be compassionate! I will be faithful to your gods! Are ye going already? Oh, hard-hearted!" "Poor woman," said the high priest Sem, "I will send to thee a mighty worker of miracles; he may--" "May ye be blessed by Astaroth! No, may your almighty and compassionate gods bless you," whispered Kama, in dreadful weariness.