Page:Wisdom's daughter; the life and love story of She-who-must-be-obeyed (IA wisdomsdaughterl00hagg 0).pdf/164

146  Egypt it may be a warning to Nectanebes the Pharaoh whom also you have betrayed.

It is a lie, it is a lie! shouted Tenes. Daughter of Isis, tell this mad woman that it is a lie.

I stood still, answering nothing, and Beltis went on,

Tenes, Fate is upon you. Will you meet it less bravely than the meanest of the thousands of this people whom you have given to doom? Take my last counsel and leap from yonder window, that you who have lived a coward and a traitor may at least die a man.

He gnashed his teeth, he stared about him. He even went to the window-place and looked out as though he would brave the deed.

I dare not, he muttered, I dare not. The gods are just; they will save me who sacrificed my son to them.

Then he knelt down in the window-place and began to pray to Moloch whose brazen image showed redly in the gathering gloom.

Take your sword, Tenes, if you dare not leap, and make an end, said the cold voice of the fierce-faced Hebrew lady who stood behind him, whilst I, Ayesha, watched all this play as a spirit might that is afar from the affairs of earth, wondering how it would end.

But Tenes only answered,

Nay, sharp steel is worse than steep air. I would live, not die. The gods are just, the gods are just!

Then he went on praying to Moloch.

Queen Beltis grasped the handle of the short sword with both her hands and with all her strength drove it down between the broad shoulders of Tenes.

Aye, dog of a Sidonian, she cried, the gods