Being obedient, she felt constrained to submit, but
being spirited, with her heart already bestowed, she resisted.
She floundered wildly for testimony that would justify her rebellion in
his sight. The memory of Ta-user's threats came to her as unexpected
and unbidden as all inspirations come.
"Shall I hold thee in thy position at the expense of Egypt's peace, if
not at the expense of the dynasty?" she cried.
"By the heaven-bearing shoulders of Buto!" he responded laughingly,
"thou dost put a high estimate on the results of thine acts. Add
thereto, 'if not at the expense of the Pantheon,' and thou shalt have
all heaven and earth at thy mercy."
"Nay, my father, hear me! Thou knowest Ta-user--"
"O, aye, I know Ta-user--all Egypt knows her--more particularly,
Rameses."
"Thou dost not fathom the evil in her--"
"Her fangs are drawn, daughter."
"Hear me, father. Last night, after Rameses--after he--after he left
me, he met Ta-user. And the talk between them was of such nature that
she knelt to him and he flung her off. They were between me and mine
apartments, and I could not but know of it. When he left her she made
such threats that it were treason for me to give them voice again.
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