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Rh, and in vain struggled to rise. "Traitor!" he cried, "darest thou thus to speak to me? Strike this woman dead on the instant."

But Thoth stood motionless, and said, "Thy whole power has grown out of wisdom—listen for a moment to reason."

"Dost thou speak of reason to me, son of an outcast? Ah, that my strength had returned, that I might kill thee with my own hand."

"Revered king," said Thoth, "I only ask for delay. Thou shalt examine the case thyself. Without thy consent I will do nothing. I have been faithful to all thy commands. The arrows of death and the aerial cars are at thy disposal. Had I been a traitor and a victim to the guile of love, thy sleep would have passed into death."

"Hold thy peace!" cried the monarch. "In