"
"Then, being of the house of Mentu, thou hast no fear of my
steadfastness, O my Sovereign?"
"Nay; would that I might be as trustful of all my ministers. Alas,
that a single traitor should lay the stain of unfaith upon all the
court! Ah, who is mine enemy?"
The sentence, more exclamatory than questioning, seemed to the young
man like a call upon him to voice his impeachments. His inclination
pressed hard upon him and the tokens of his knowledge wrote themselves
upon his open face. When a man is dodging death and expecting
treachery, his perceptions become acute. The king, with his eyes upon
the young man's countenance, caught the change of expression.
He sprang at Kenkenes and seized his arms.
"Speak!" he cried violently. "Thou knowest; thou knowest!"
A sudden ebullition of rage and vengeance sent a tingling current
through the young man's veins. The moment had come. In the eye of a
cautious man, he had been called upon for a dangerous declaration. He
had a mighty man to accuse, no proof and little evidence at his
command, and a weakling was to decide between them. But his cause
equipped him with strength and a reckless courage. He faced the king
fairly and made no search after ceremonious words.
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