"All one to me. The rabble did it, and the rabble must give answer." "No judge will say that," reflected Tutmosis. "But thou art to be the highest judge." The prince became thoughtful. Tutmosis continued,-- "Stop! what would the pharaoh our lord say to-morrow? And what delight would reign among our foes in the east and the west, if they heard that the heir to the throne, almost at the royal palace, was attacked in the night by his own people?" "Oh, if my father would give me even half the army, our enemies on all sides of the world would be silent forever!" said the prince, stamping on the pavement. "Finally, remember that man who hanged himself; thou wert sorry when an innocent man lost his life. But to-day is it possible that thou art willing thyself to slay innocent people?" "Enough!" interrupted Rameses, in a deep voice. "My anger is like a water-jar. Woe to him on whom it falls! Let us enter." The frightened Tutmosis drew back. The prince took Sarah by the hand and went to the terrace. He seated her near the table on which was the unfinished supper, and approaching the light drew the bandage from her forehead. "Ah!" cried he, "this is not even a wound, it is only a blue spot." He looked at Sarah attentively. "I never thought," said he, "that thou wouldst have a blue spot. This changed thy face considerably." "Then I please thee no longer?" whispered Sarah, raising on him great eyes full of fear. "Oh, no! this will pass quickly." Then he called Tutmosis and the black, and commanded to tell him what had happened that evening. "He defended us," said Sarah. "He stood, with an axe, in the doorway." "Didst thou do that?" asked the prince, looking quickly into the eyes of the Nubian. "Was I to let strange people break into thy house, lord?" Rameses patted him on the curly head. "Thou hast acted," said he, "like a brave man. I give thee freedom. To-morrow thou wilt receive a reward and mayst return to thy own people." The black tottered and rubbed his eyes, the whites of which were shining. Suddenly he dropped on his knees, and cried as he struck the floor with his forehead,-- "Do not put me away, lord." "Well," replied Rameses, "remain with me, but as a free warrior. I need just such men," said he, turning to Tutmosis. "He cannot talk like the overseer of the house of books, but he is ready for battle." And again he inquired for details of the attack, when the Nubian told how a priest had approached, and when he related his miracles the prince seized his own head, exclaiming,-- "I am the most hapless man in all Egypt! Very soon I shall find a priest in my bed even. Whence did he come? Who was he?" The black servitor could not explain this, but he said that the priest's action toward the prince and toward Sarah was very friendly; that the attack was directed not by Egyptians, but by people who, the priest said, were enemies of Egypt, and whom he challenged to step forward, but they would not.