"'That shalt thou never while I draw breath,' answered the Prince, as
he too lifted the symbol of his royalty from his head and gave it to me.
There was a difference between the circlets, the coronet of Meriamun was
crowned with one crested snake, that of the divine Prince was crowned
with twain.

"'Ay, Meneptah,' she said, 'but perchance Osiris, God of the Dead, waits
thee, for surely he loves those too great and good for earth. Take thou
the field and to the play.' At her words of evil omen, he frowned. But
he took the field and readily, for he knew the game well.

"She moved in answer heedlessly enough, and afterwards she played at
random and carelessly, pushing the pieces about with little skill. And
so he won this first game quickly, and crying, '_Pharaoh is dead_,'
swept the pieces from the board. 'See how I better thee,' he went on in
mockery. 'Thine is a woman's game; all attack and no defence.'

"'Boast not yet, Meneptah,' she said. 'There are still two sets to play.
See, the board is set and I take the field.'

"This time the game went differently, for the Prince could scarce make
a prisoner of a single piece save of one temple and two bowmen only, and
presently it was the turn of Meriamun to cry '_Pharaoh is dead_,' and
to sweep the pieces from the board. This time Meneptah did not boast but
scowled, while I set the board and the scribe wrote down the game upon
his tablets. Now it was the Prince's turn to take the field.

"'In the name of holy Thoth,' he cried, 'to whom I vow great gifts of
victory.'