against the Royal uraeus on thine, and the winner shall wear both.'

"'Nay, nay, Lady,' I was bold to say, 'this were too high a stake.'

"'High or low, I accept the wager,' answered the Prince. 'This sister of
mine has mocked me too long. She shall find that her woman's wit cannot
match me at my own game, and that my father's son, the Royal Prince of
Kush and the Pharaoh who shall be, is more than the equal of a girl. I
hold thy wage, Meriamun!'

"'Go then, Prince,' she cried, 'and after sunset meet me in my
antechamber. Bring a scribe to score the games; Rei shall be the judge,
and hold the stakes. But beware of the golden Cup of Pasht! Drain it not
to-night, lest I win a love-game, though we do not play for love!'

"The Prince went scowling away, and Meriamun laughed, but I foresaw
mischief. The stakes were too high, the match was too strange, but
Meriamun would not listen to me, for she was very wilful.

"The sun fell, and two hours after the Royal Prince of Kush came with
his scribe, and found Meriamun with the board of squares before her, in
her antechamber.

"He sat down without a word, then he asked, who should first take the
field.

"'Wait,' she said, 'first let us set the stakes,' and lifting from her
brow the golden snake of royalty, she shook her soft hair loose, and
gave the coronet to me. 'If I lose,' she said, 'never may I wear the
uraeus crown.'