The sun went down, and on both banks of the Nile dense crowds of people collected waiting impatiently for the signal of the overflow, which in fact was belated. For two days the wind had been blowing from the sea and the river was green; the sun had passed the star Sothis already, but in the well of the priest in Memphis the water had not risen even the breadth of a finger. The people were alarmed, all the more since in Upper Egypt, according to signals, the overflow proceeded with regular increase and even promised to be perfect. "What detains it at Memphis then?" asked the anxious earth-tillers waiting for the signal in disquiet. When the stars had appeared in the sky, Tafet spread a white cloth on the table, placed on it the candlestick with seven lighted torches, pushed up three armchairs, and announced that the Sabbath supper would be served immediately. Gideon covered his head then, and raising both hands above the table, said with his eyes looking heavenward,-- "God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Thou who didst lead our people out of Egypt, who didst give a country to the slave and exile, who didst make with the sons of Judah an eternal covenant, O Jehovah, O Adonai, permit us to enjoy without sin the fruits of the enemies' country. Bring us out of sorrow and fear in which we are buried, and restore us to the banks of the Jordan, which we left for Thy glory." At the moment a voice was heard from beyond the wall,-- "His worthiness Tutmosis, the most faithful servant of his holiness and of his son Prince Rameses!" "May he live through eternity!" called a number of voices from the garden. "His worthiness," said a single voice again, "sends greeting to the most beautiful rose of Lebanon." When the voice ceased, the sound of harps and flutes was heard. "That is music!" exclaimed Tafet, clapping her hands. "We shall pass the Sabbath with music." Sarah and her father, frightened at first, began to laugh, and sat down again at the table. "Let them play," said Gideon; "their music is not bad for the appetite." The flute and harp played, then a tenor voice sang,-- "Thou art more beautiful than all the maidens who look at themselves in the Nile. Thy hair is blacker than the feathers of a raven, thy eyes have a milder glance than the eyes of a deer which is yearning for its fawn. Thy stature is the stature of a palm, and the lotus envies thee thy charm. Thy bosoms are like grape clusters with the juice of which kings delight themselves." Again the flute and harp were heard, and next a song,-- "Come and repose in the garden. The servants which belong to thee will bring various vessels and beer of all kinds. Come, let us celebrate this night and the dawn which will follow it. In my shadow, in the shadow of the fig, giving sweet fruit, thy lover will rest at thy right hand; and thou wilt give him to drink and consent to all his wishes--" Next came the flutes and harps, and after them a new song,--