"I hear, but if I return, what will you of me?""That you who have proved yourself a prophetess by your deeds in yonder temple should dedicate your powers to the service of your people, receiving in return full forgiveness for the evils you have wrought against them, which we swear to you in the name of God.""I am no prophetess, and I have wrought no evils against my people, Priest. I have only saved them from the evil of murdering one who has shown himself their friend, even as I hear to the laying down of his crown for their sake.""That is for the Fathers of Israel and not for you to judge, woman.
Your answer?"
"It is neither for them nor for me, but for God only." She paused, then added, "Is this all you ask of me?""It is all the Fathers ask, but Laban asks his affianced wife.""And am I to be given in marriage to--this assassin?""Without doubt you are to be given to this brave soldier, being already his.""And if I refuse?"
"Then, Daughter of Nathan, it is my part to curse you in the name of God, and to declare you cut off and outcast from the people of God. It is my part to announce to you further that your life is forfeit, and that any Hebrew may kill you when and how he can, and take no blame."Merapi paled a little, then turning to Jabez, asked:
"You have heard, my uncle. What say you?"Jabez looked round shiftily, and said in his unctuous voice:
"My niece, surely you must obey the commands of the Elders of Israel who speak the will of Heaven, as you obeyed them when you matched yourself against the might of Amon.""You gave me a different counsel yesterday, my uncle. Then you said Ihad better bide where I was."
The messenger turned and glared at him.
"There is a great difference between yesterday and to-day," went on Jabez hurriedly. "Yesterday you were protected by one who would soon be Pharaoh, and might have been able to move his mind in favour of your folk. To-day his greatness is stripped from him, and his will has no more weight in Egypt. A dead lion is not to be feared, my niece."Seti smiled at this insult, but Merapi's face, like my own, grew red, as though with anger.
"Sleeping lions have been taken for dead ere now, my uncle, as those who would spurn them have discovered to their cost. Prince Seti, have you no word to help me in this strait?""What is the strait, Lady? If you wish to go to your people and--to Laban, who, I understand, is recovered from his hurts, there is naught between you and me save my gratitude to you which gives me the right to say you shall not go. If, however, you wish to stay, then perhaps Iam still not so powerless to shield or smite as this worthy Jabez thinks, who still remain the greatest lord in Egypt and one with those that love him. Therefore should you desire to remain, I think that you may do so unmolested of any, and least of all by that friend in whose shadow it pleases you to sojourn.""Those are very gentle words," murmured Merapi, "words that few would speak to a maid from whom naught is asked and who has naught to give.""A truce to this talk," snarled the messenger. "Do you obey or do you rebel? Your answer."She turned and looked him full in the face, saying: