下载辰思小说免费APP
Thatnighttherewerenonewhorejoicedinthestreetsofthecity，andsaveinthepalaceandhousesofthoseoftheCourt，nonewhofeasted。Iwalkedabroadinthemarket-placeandnotedthepeoplegoingtoandfrogloomily，ortalkingtogetherinwhispers。Presentlyamanwhosefacewashiddeninahoodbegantospeakwithme，sayingthathehadamessageformymaster，thePrinceSeti。IansweredthatItooknomessagesfromveiledstrangers，whereonhethrewbackhishood，andIsawthatitwasJabez，theuncleofMerapi。IaskedhimwhetherhehadobeyedthePrince，andbornethebodyofthatprophetbacktoGoshenandtoldtheeldersofthemanneroftheman’sdeath。
“Yes，“heanswered，“norweretheEldersangrywiththePrinceoverthismatter。Theysaidthattheirmessengerhadexceededhisauthority，sincetheyhadnevertoldhimtocurseMerapi，andmuchlessattempttokillher，andthatthePrincedidrighttoslayonewhowouldhavedonemurderbeforehisroyaleyes。Stilltheyaddedthatthecurse，havingoncebeenspokenbythispriest，wouldsurelyfalluponMerapiinthiswayorinthat。“
“Whatthenshouldshedo，Jabez？“
“Idonotknow，Scribe。Ifshereturnstoherpeople，perchanceshewillbeabsolved，butthenshemustsurelymarryLaban。Itisforhertojudge。“
“Andwhatwouldyoudoifyouwereinherplace，Jabez？“
“IthinkthatIshouldstaywhereIwas，andmakemyselfverydeartoSeti，takingthechancethatthecursemaypassherby，sinceitwasnotlawfullydecreeduponher。Whicheverwayshelooks，troublewaits，andattheworst，awomanmightwishtosatisfyherheartbeforeitfalls，especiallyifthatheartshouldhappentoturntoonewhowillbePharaoh。“
“Whydoyousay’whowillbePharaoh，’Jabez？“Iasked，forwewerestandinginanemptyplacealone。
“ThatImaynottellyou，“herepliedcunningly，“yetitwillcomeaboutasIsay。HewhositsuponthethroneismadasMeneptahwasmad，andwillfightagainstastrengththatisgreaterthanhisuntilitoverwhelmshim。InthePrince’sheartalonedoesthelightofwisdomshine。Thatwhichyousawto-dayisonlythefirstofmanymiracles，ScribeAna。Icansaynomore。“
“Whatthenisyourmessage，Jabez？“
“This：BecausethePrincehasstriventodealwellwiththepeopleofIsraelandfortheirsakehascastasideacrown，whatevermaychancetoothers，lethimfearnothing。Noharmshallcometohim，ortothoseabouthim，suchasyourself，ScribeAna，whoalsowoulddealjustlybyus。YetitmayhappenthatthroughmynieceMerapi，onwhoseheadtheevilwordhasfallen，agreatsorrowmaycometobothhimandher。Therefore，perhaps，althoughsettingthisagainstthat，shemaybewisetostayinthehouseofSeti，he，onthebalance，maybewisetoturnherfromhisdoors。“
“Whatsorrow？“Iasked，whogrewbewilderedwithhisdarktalk，buttherewasnoanswer，forhehadgone。
Neartomylodginganothermanmetme，andthemoonlightshiningonhisfaceshowedmetheterribleeyesofKi。
“ScribeAna，“hesaid，“youleaveforMemphisto-morrowatthedawn，andnottwodayshenceasyoupurposed。“
“Howdoyouknowthat，MagicianKi？“Ianswered，forIhadtoldmychangeofplantonone，noteventoBakenkhonsu，havingindeedonlydetermineduponitsinceJabezleftme。
“Iknownothing，Ana，savethatafaithfulservantwhohaslearnedallyouhavelearnedto-daywillhur
