She fled from my
father and was hidden by the man she loved--"
"Aye, I know the story. Hotep brought it to mine ears months ago. The
man was Kenkenes, and thy father overtook him and threw him into prison
in Tape. What more?"
"The gods keep me in my love for thee, O my father! for thou dost strain
it most heavily," Masanath thought. After an unhappy silence she went on.
"Thou hast given me news. I know little of the tale save that the day
the darkness fell Kenkenes met his love on the eastern shore of the Nile
opposite Memphis, and there my father's servants came upon them and
fought with him for the possession of the Israelite. The Israelite is
gone, and my father's servants are still seeking for her, and I would not
have her taken."
"Thou art a queen. What is she, a slave, to thee?"
"A sister, my comforter, my one friend!"
"Thou canst find sisters and comforters and friends among high-born women
of Egypt. I had laid Kenkenes' folly concerning this Israelite to the
moonshine genius in him. But the slave is a sorceress, for the madness
touches whosoever looks upon her. Behold her worshipers--first, thy
father, Kenkenes, Hotep and thyself, and the gods know whom else. She
would better be curbed before she bewitches Egypt.
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