Rei, the Priest of Amen, the Master Builder, began his story unwillingly
enough, and slowly, but soon he took pleasure in telling it as old men
do, and in sharing the burden of a secret.

"The Queen is fair," he said; "thou hast seen no fairer in all thy
voyagings?"

"She is fair indeed," answered the Wanderer. "I pray that she be
well-mated and happy on her throne?"

"That is what I will tell thee of, though my life may be the price of
the tale," said Rei. "But a lighter heart is well worth an old man's
cheap risk, and thou may'st help me and her, when thou knowest all.
Pharaoh Meneptah, her lord, the King, is the son of the divine Rameses,
the ever-living Pharaoh, child of the Sun, who dwelleth in Osiris."

"Thou meanest that he is dead?" asked the Wanderer.

"He dwelleth with Osiris," said the Priest, "and the Queen Meriamun was
his daughter by another bed."

"A brother wed a sister!" exclaimed the Wanderer.

"It is the custom of our Royal House, from the days of the Timeless
Kings, the children of Horus. An old custom."

"The ways of his hosts are good in the eyes of a stranger," said the
Wanderer, courteously.

"It is an old custom, and a sacred," said Rei, "but women, the