“ReithePriestIamindeed，“heanswered，“therestIamnomore，forMeriamuntheQueenhasstrippedmeofmywealthandoffices，becauseofthee，thouWanderer，andtheImmortalwhoselovethouhastwon，andbywhomthouhastdealtsoill。Hearken！IlearnedbyartsknowntomeofthedreamofPharaoh，andofthysendingforthtodobattlewiththebarbarians。ThenIdisguisedmyselfasthouseest，andtooktheswiftestcamelinTanis，andamcomehitherbyanotherwaytomeetthee。NowIwouldasktheeonething。HowcameitthatthoudidstplaytheImmortalfalsethatnight？Knowestthouthatshewaitedfortheetherebythepylongate？Ay，thereIfoundherandledhertothePalace，andforthatIamstrippedofmyrankandgoodsbyMeriamun，andnowtheLadyofBeautyisreturnedtohershrine，grievingbitterlyforthyfaithlessness；thoughhowshepassedthitherIknownot。“
“MethoughtIheardhervoiceasthoseknavesboremetomydungeon，“
saidtheWanderer。“Andshedeemedmefaithless！Say，Rei，dostthouknowthemagicofMeriamun？DostthouknowhowshewonmetoherselfintheshapeofArgiveHelen？“
Andthen，inasfewwordsasmightbe，hetoldReihowhehadbeenledawaybythemagicofMeriamun，howhewhoshouldhaveswornbytheStarhadswornbytheSnake。
WhenReiheardthattheWandererhadswornbytheSnake，heshuddered。