Thatnighttherewerenonewhorejoicedinthestreetsofthecity，andsaveinthepalaceandhousesofthoseoftheCourt，nonewhofeasted。Iwalkedabroadinthemarket-placeandnotedthepeoplegoingtoandfrogloomily，ortalkingtogetherinwhispers。Presentlyamanwhosefacewashiddeninahoodbegantospeakwithme，sayingthathehadamessageformymaster，thePrinceSeti。IansweredthatItooknomessagesfromveiledstrangers，whereonhethrewbackhishood，andIsawthatitwasJabez，theuncleofMerapi。IaskedhimwhetherhehadobeyedthePrince，andbornethebodyofthatprophetbacktoGoshenandtoldtheeldersofthemanneroftheman’sdeath。
“Yes，“heanswered，“norweretheEldersangrywiththePrinceoverthismatter。Theysaidthattheirmessengerhadexceededhisauthority，sincetheyhadnevertoldhimtocurseMerapi，andmuchlessattempttokillher，andthatthePrincedidrighttoslayonewhowouldhavedonemurderbeforehisroyaleyes。Stilltheyaddedthatthecurse，havingoncebeenspokenbythispriest，wouldsurelyfalluponMerapiinthiswayorinthat。“
“Whatthenshouldshedo，Jabez？“
“Idonotknow，Scribe。Ifshereturnstoherpeople，perchanceshewillbeabsolved，butthenshemustsurelymarryLaban。Itisforhertojudge。“
“Andwhatwouldyoudoifyouwereinherplace，Jabez？“