seated behind the altar fashioned in the black stone of Syene, wound
about with the corpse-cloths, wearing on his head the crown of the
Upper Land, and holding in his hands the crook of divinity and the awful
scourge of punishment. The light shone all about the white and dreadful
shape that was placed upon his holy knees, the naked shape of lost
Hataska who this night had died at the hand of Meriamun. There she bowed
her head against the sacred breast, her long hair streaming down on
either side, her arms tied across her heart, and her eyes, whence the
hues of life had scarcely faded, widely staring at the darkness of the
shrine. For at Tanis to this day it is the custom for a night to place
those of high birth or office who die suddenly upon the knees of the
statue of Osiris.

"'See,' I said to the Queen, speaking low, for the weight of the haunted
place sank into my heart, 'see how she who scarce an hour ago was but
a lovely wanton hath by thine act been clad in majesty greater than all
the glory of the earth. Bethink thee, wilt thou dare indeed to summon
back the spirit to the body whence thou hast set it free? Not easily, O
Queen, may it be done for all thy magic, and if perchance she answereth
thee, it may well be that the terror of her words shall utterly
o'erwhelm us.'

"'Nay,' she made answer, 'I am instructed. I fear not. I know by what
name to call the Khou that hovers on the threshold of the Double Hall
of Truth, and how to send it back to its own place. I fear not, but
if perchance thou fearest, Rei, depart hence and leave me to the task
alone.'

"'Nay,' I said. 'I also am instructed, and I go not. But I say to thee
that this is unholy.'