favour for the hour. Now wine worked so with the King that he toyed
openly with the lady Hataska's hand, but Meriamun the Queen took no
note, though Hataska, who had also drunk of the warm wine of the Lower
Land, grew insolent, as was her wont. She quaffed deep from her cup
of gold, and bade a slave bear it to the Queen, crying, 'Pledge me, my
sister.'

"The meaning of her message was plain to all who heard; this waiting
lady openly declared herself wife to Pharaoh and an equal of the Queen.
Now Meriamun cared nothing for Pharaoh's love, but for power she did
care, and she frowned, while a light shone in her dark eyes; yet she
took the cup and touched it with her lips.

"Presently she lifted her own cup in turn and toyed with it, then made
pretence to drink, and said softly to the King's paramour, who had
pledged her:

"'Pledge me in answer, Hataska, my servant, for soon, methinks, thou
shalt be greater than the Queen.'

"Now this foolish woman read her saying wrong, and took the golden cup
from the eunuch who bore it.

"With a little nod to the Queen, and a wave of her slim hand, Hataska
drank, and instantly, with a great cry, she fell dead across the board.
Then, while all the company sat in terror, neither daring to be silent
nor to speak, and while Meriamun smiled scornfully on the dark head
lying low among the roses on the board, Pharaoh leaped up, mad with
wrath, and called to the guards to seize the Queen. But she waved them
back, and, speaking in a slow, cold voice, she said: