“Oh，toSetwithPharaoh！Thoughitistruethatheisagoodpaymaster，andknowsthevalueofacleverwoman。Now，whatisthisbusiness？“
Theoldastrologer\'sfacegrewhardandcunning。Goingtothedoorhemadesurethatitwaslockedanddrewacurtainoverit。ThenhetookastoolandsathimselfdowninfrontofMerytra，insuchapositionthatthelightfellonherfacewhilehisownremainedinshadow。
“Abigbusiness，Merytra，andbythegodsIdonotknowthatIshouldtrustyouwithit。Youtrickedmeonce，youhavetrickedPharaohforyears；howdoIknowthatyouwillnotplaythesamegameoncemoreandearnmeanordertocutmyownthroat，andsoloselifeandsoultogether？“
“Ifyouthinkthat，Kaku，perhapsyouwillunlockthedoorandgivemeanescorthome，forweareonlywastingtime。“
“Idon\'tknowwhattothink，foryouareascunningasyouarebeautiful。Listen，woman，“hecontinuedinasavagewhisper，andclaspingherbythewrist。“Ifyouarefalse，Itellyouthatyoushalldiehorribly，foriftheknifeandpoisonfail，Iamnocharlatan，Ihavearts。Icanmakeyouturnloathsometothesightandwasteaway，Icanhauntyouatnightssothatyoumayneversleepawink，saveinfullsunshine，andIwilldoitallandmore。IfIdie，Merytra，wegotogether。Nowwillyousweartobetrue，willyouswearitbytheoathofoaths？“