RHEOU. We had to put constraint on her. And 'twas only when I led her to this terrace, after the thunderbolt, and pointed out the scattered soldiery, that she came to herself, that at length she perceived that your God was the most powerful. "What," she cried, "'tis he, he, my Satni, who shakes the heavens and the earth for me! For me!" she murmured, "for me!" She would have kissed your sandals, offered you a sacrifice, worshipped, adored you. See where she comes, with Mieris! Stay. SATNI. No. _He goes. Rheou accompanies him. Mieris enters, bearing flowers and led by Yaouma._ MIERIS [_listening_] Is he there? YAOUMA. No. MIERIS. Leave me. _Yaouma goes out. Mieris left alone makes several hesitating steps toward the statue of Isis, then goes up to it and touches it. A pause._ MIERIS. If it be only of wood! _A gesture of disillusion. She draws slowly away from the statue, letting her flowers fall, broken-hearted, and begins to weep. Rheou returns._ RHEOU. Why, Mieris--do you bring flowers to Isis still? MIERIS. It is the last time. Listen, Rheou--We mast ask Satni to heal me. Do not tell me it is not possible; he has healed Ahmarsti. RHEOU. Healed Ahmarsti? MIERIS, Yes. He made her drink a liquid wherein no doubt a good genius was hidden, and the evil spirit that tormented her was driven forth. RHEOU [_credulously_] Is't possible? MIERIS. Every one saw it. And Kitoui-- RHEOU. Well? MIERIS. Kitoui, the cripple, went this morning to draw water from the Nile, before all her neighbors who marvelled and cried with joy. And she had merely touched the hem of his garment, even without his knowing it. He has healed the child of Riti, too, he knows gods more powerful than ours--younger gods, perhaps, our gods are so old--If it were not so, how could he have walked unscathed the road where the scarabs lay, that day when he came home? Since then, men have seen him do a thousand forbidden things, have seen him defy our gods by disrespect. Without the protection of a higher power, how could he escape the chastisement whereof another had died? Who are his gods? Rheou, he must make them known to you. RHEOU. He refuses. MIERIS. For what reason? RHEOU. The reason he gives is absurd--he says there are no gods-- MIERIS. No gods! no gods!--he is mocking you. RHEOU. He is bound to secrecy, perhaps. MIERIS. Rheou, know you that this Ahmarsti--these two years now, on the day of Prodigies, have I heard her at my side howling prayers at the goddess that were never answered. RHEOU. I know. Satni declares he could have healed all whom the goddess has relieved. MIERIS [_to herself_] He relieves even those women whom she abandons--[_After a pause_] He must teach you the words that work these miracles. RHEOU. He refuses. MIERIS. Force him! RHEOU. He says there are none. MIERIS. Threaten him with death--he will speak. RHEOU. No.