strokes，“andhesmiled。
TheancientpriestbadetheTempleservantsretire，andastheywenttheyheardhimmurmuringaprayer。
“TheDeadspoketruth，“hemuttered，stillgazingfromthehelmetinhishandtotheWanderer；“ay，theDeadspeakseldom，buttheyneverlie。“
“Myson，thouhasteatenanddrunk，“thensaidReithePriestandMasterBuilder，“andmayanoldmanaskwhencethoucamest，whereisthynativecity，andwhoarethyparents？“
“IcomefromAlybas，“answeredtheWanderer，forhisownnamewastoowidelyknown，andhelovedanartfultale。“IcomefromAlybas；IamthesonofApheidas，sonofPolypemon，andmyownnameisEperitus。“
“Andwhereforecomestthouherealoneinashipofdeadmen，andwithmoretreasurethanaking’sransom？“
“ItwasmenofSidonwholabouredanddiedforallthatcargo，“saidtheWanderer；“theyvoyagedfarforit，andtoiledhard，buttheylostitinanhour。Fortheywerenotcontentwithwhattheyhad，butmademeaprisonerasIlayasleeponthecoastofCrete。ButtheGodsgavemetheupperhandofthem，andIbringtheircaptain，andmuchwhitemetalandmanyswordsandcupsandbeautifulwovenstuffs，asagifttoyourKing。Andforthycourtesy，comewithme，andchooseagiftforthyself。“
Thenheledtheoldmantothetreasure-chambersoftheTemple，whichwasrichintheofferingsofmanytravellers，goldandturquoiseandfrankincensefromSinaiandPunt，greathornsofcarvedivoryfromtheunknownEastandSouth；bowlsandbathsofsilverfromtheKhita，whowerethealliesofEgypt。Butamidstallthewealth，thestranger’scargomadeagoodlyshow，andtheoldpriest’seyesglitteredashelookedatit。
“Takethychoice，Ipraythee，“saidtheWanderer，“thespoilsoffoemenaretheshareoffriends。“
Thepriestwouldhaverefused，buttheWanderersawthathelookedeveratabowloftransparentamber，fromthefar-offNorthernseas，thatwasembossedwithcuriousfiguresofmenandgods，andhugefishes，suchasareunknownintheMidlandwaters。TheWandererputitintothehandsofRei。
“Thoushaltkeepthis，“hesaid，“andpledgemeinwinefromitwhenI
amgone，inmemoryofafriendandaguest。“
Reitookthebowl，andthankedhim，holdingituptothelighttoadmirethegoldencolour。
“Wearealwayschildren，“hesaid，smilinggravely。“Seeanoldchildwhomthouhastmadehappywithatoy。Butwearementoosoonagain；
theKingbidstheecomewithmebeforehim。And，myson，ifthouwouldstpleasememorethanbyanygift，Ipraytheepluckthatspear-
headfromthyhelmetbeforethoucomestintothepresenceoftheQueen。“
“Pardonme，“saidtheWanderer。“Iwouldnotharmmyhelmetbytearingitroughlyout，andIhavenosmith’stoolshere。Thespear-point，myfather，isawitnesstothetruthofmytale，andforonedaymore，ortwo，Imustwearit。“
Reisighed，bowedhishead，foldedhishands，andprayedtohisGodAmen，saying:
“OAmen，inwhosehandistheendofamatter，lightentheburdenofthesesorrows，andletthevisionbeeasyofaccomplishment，andI
praythee，OAmen，letthyhandbelightonthydaughterMeriamun，theLadyofKhem。“
ThentheoldmanledtheWandererout，andbadethepriestsmakereadyachariotforhim；andsotheywentthroughTanistotheCourtofMeneptah。Behindthemfollowedthepriests，carryinggiftsthattheWandererhadchosenfromthetreasuresoftheSidonians，andthemiserablecaptainoftheSidonianswasdraggedalongafterthem，boundtothehinderpartofachariot。ThroughthegazingcrowdtheyallpassedontotheHallofAudience，where，betweenthegreatpillars，satPharaohonhisgoldenthrone。Besidehim，athisrighthand，wasMeriamun，thebeautifulQueen，wholookedatthepriestswithwearyeyes，asifatamatterinwhichshehadnoconcern。TheycameinandbeattheearthwiththeirbrowsbeforetheKing。Firstcametheofficers，leadingthecaptainoftheSidoniansforagifttoPharaoh，andtheKingsmiledgraciouslyandacceptedtheslave。
Thencameothers，bearingthecupsofgoldfashionedliketheheadsoflionsandrams，andtheswordswithpicturesofwarsandhuntingsechoedontheirbladesinmany-colouredgold，andtheneckletsofamberfromtheNorth，whichtheWandererhadchosenasgiftsforPharaoh’sQueenandPharaoh。Hehadsilks，too，embroideredingold，andneedleworkofSidonianwomen，andallthesetheQueenMeriamuntouchedtoshowheracceptanceofthem，andsmiledgraciouslyandwearily。ButthecovetousSidoniangroaned，whenhesawhiswealthdepartingfromhim，thegainsforwhichhehadhazardedhislifeinunsailedseas。Lastly，PharaohbadethemleadtheWandererinbeforehispresence，andhecameunhelmeted，inallhissplendour，thegoodliestmanthathadeverbeenseeninKhem。Hewasofnogreatheight，butverygreatofgirth，andofstrengthunmatched，andwiththefaceofonewhohadseenwhatfewhaveseenandlived。Thebeautyofyouthwasgonefromhim，buthisfacehadthecomelinessofawarriortriedonseaandland；theeyeswereofavalourinvincible，andnowomancouldseehimbutshelongedtobehislove。
Asheenteredmurmursofamazementpassedoverallthecompany，andalleyeswerefixedonhim，saveonlythewearyandwanderingeyesofthelistlessMeriamun。Butwhenshechancedtoliftherface，andgazeonhim，theywhowatchthelooksofkingsandqueenssawherturngreyasthedead，andclutchwithherhandatherside。Pharaohhimselfsawthisthoughhewasnotquicktomarkwhatpassed，andheaskedherifanythingailedher，butsheanswered:——
“Nay，onlymethinkstheairissickwithheatandperfume。Greetthouthisstranger。“Butbeneathherrobeherfingerswerefrettingallthewhileatthegoldenfringesofherthrone。
“Welcome，thouWanderer，“criedPharaoh，inadeepandheavyvoice，“welcome！Bywhatnameartthounamed，andwheredwellthypeople，andwhatisthynativeland？“
BowinglowbeforePharaoh，theWandereranswered，withafeignedtale，thathisnamewasEperitusofAlybas，thesonofApheidas。Therestofthestory，andhowhehadbeentakenbytheSidonians，andhowhehadsmittenthemontheseas，hetoldashehadtoldittoRei。Andhedisplayedhishelmetwiththespear-pointfastinit。ButwhenshesawthisMeriamunrosetoherfeetasifshewouldbegone，andthenfellbackintoherseatevenpalerthanbefore。
“TheQueen，helptheQueen，shefaints，“criedReithePriest，whoseeyeshadneverleftherface。Oneofherladies，abeautifulwoman，rantoher，kneltbeforeher，andchafedherhands，tillshecametoherself，andsatupwithangryeyes。
“Letbe！“shesaid，“andlettheslavewhotendstheincensebebeatenonthefeet。Nay，Iwillremainhere，Iwillnottomychamber。Letbe！“andherladydrewbackafraid。
ThenPharaohbademenleadtheSidonianout，andslayhiminthemarket-placeforhistreachery；buttheman，whosenamewasKurri，threwhimselfatthefeetoftheWanderer，prayingforhislife。TheWandererwasmerciful，whentherageofbattlewasover，andhisbloodwascool。
“Aboon，OPharaohMeneptah，“hecried。“Sparemethisman！Hesavedmyownlifewhenthecrewwouldhavecastmeoverboard。Letmepaymydebt。“
“Lethimbespared，asthouwilthaveitso，“spokePharaoh，“butrevengedogsthefeetoffoolishmercy，andmanydebtsarepaidereallisdone。“
ThusitchancedthatKurriwasgiventoMeriamuntobeherjewellerandtoworkforheringoldandsilver。TotheWandererwasallottedachamberintheRoyalPalace，forthePharaohtrustedthathewouldbealeaderofhisGuard，andtookgreatpleasureinhisbeautyandhisstrength。
AshelefttheHallofAudiencewithRei，theQueenMeriamunliftedhereyesagain，andlookedonhimlong，andherivoryfaceflushedrosy，liketheivorythattheSidoniansdyeredforthetrappingsofthehorsesofkings。ButtheWanderermarkedboththesuddenfearandtheblushofMeriamun，and，beautifulasshewas，helikeditill，andhisheartforebodedevil。WhenhewasalonewithRei，therefore，hespoketohimofthis，andprayedtheoldmantotellhimifhecouldguessatallthemeaningoftheQueen。
“Fortome，“hesaid，“itwasasiftheLadyknewmyface，andevenasifshefearedit；butIneversawherlikeinallmywanderings。
Beautifulsheis，andyet——butitisillspeakingintheirownlandofkingsandqueens！“
Atfirst，whentheWandererspokethus，Reiputitby，smiling。ButtheWanderer，seeingthathewastroubled，andrememberinghowhehadprayedhimtopluckthespear-pointfromhishelmet，pressedhimhardwithquestions。Thus，partlyoutofweariness，andpartlyforloveofhim，andalsobecauseasecrethadlongbeenburninginhisheart，theoldmantooktheWandererintohisownroominthePalace，andtherehetoldhimallthestoryofMeriamuntheQueen。
Rei，thePriestofAmen，theMasterBuilder，beganhisstoryunwillinglyenough，andslowly，butsoonhetookpleasureintellingitasoldmendo，andinsharingtheburdenofasecret。
“TheQueenisfair，“hesaid；“thouhastseennofairerinallthyvoyagings？“
“Sheisfairindeed，“answeredtheWanderer。“Ipraythatshebewell-
matedandhappyonherthrone？“
“ThatiswhatIwilltelltheeof，thoughmylifemaybethepriceofthetale，“saidRei。“Butalighterheartiswellworthanoldman’scheaprisk，andthoumay’sthelpmeandher，whenthouknowestall。
PharaohMeneptah，herlord，theKing，isthesonofthedivineRameses，theever-livingPharaoh，childoftheSun，whodwellethinOsiris。“
“Thoumeanestthatheisdead？“askedtheWanderer。
“HedwellethwithOsiris，“saidthePriest，“andtheQueenMeriamunwashisdaughterbyanotherbed。“
“Abrotherwedasister！“exclaimedtheWanderer。
“ItisthecustomofourRoyalHouse，fromthedaysoftheTimelessKings，thechildrenofHorus。Anoldcustom。“
“Thewaysofhishostsaregoodintheeyesofastranger，“saidtheWanderer，courteously。
“Itisanoldcustom，andasacred，“saidRei，“butwomen，thecustom-