NowwhenKurriheardthesewords，andsawtheWanderer’ssorryplight，hebentoverhimandsaid:
“ItwasI，KurritheSidonian，whocutthecordofthygreatbow，Eperitus；withthespear-pointthatthougavestbacktomeIcutit，I，whosefolkthoudidstslayandmadestmeaslave。AndIwillcravethisboonofPharaoh，thatmineshallbethehandtotormenttheenightanddaytillatlastthoudiest，cursingthedaythatthouwastborn。“
TheWandererlookeduponhimandanswered:“Therethouliest，thouSidoniandog，forthisiswritteninthyface，thatthouthyselfshaltdiewithinanhourandthatstrangely。“
ThenKurrishrankbackscowling。ButnomorewordsmightOdysseusspeak，foratoncetheyforcedhisjawsapartandgaggedhimwithagagofiron；andthereafter，strippinghisharnessfromhim，theyboundhimwithfettersastheQueenhadcommanded。
NowwhiletheydealtthuswiththeWanderer，Meriamunpassedintoanotherchamberandswiftlythrewrobesuponhertohideherdisarray，claspingthemroundherwiththegoldengirdlewhichnowshemustalwayswear。Butherlonghairsheleftunbound，nordidshewashthestainoftearsfromherface，forshewasmindedtoseemshamedandwoe-begoneintheeyesofallmentillPharaohcameagain。
ReiandtheGoldenHelenpassedthroughthestreetsofthecitytilltheycametothePalacegates。Andheretheymustwaittillthedawn，forRei，thinkingtocomethitherwiththeWanderer，whowasCaptainoftheGuard，hadnotlearnedthewordofentry。
“Easywoulditbeformetowinmywaythroughthosegreatgates，“
saidtheHelentoReiatherside，“butitismycounselthatwewaitawhile。Perchancehewhomweseekwillcomeforth。“
SotheyenteredtheporchoftheTempleofOsiristhatlookedtowardsthegates，andtheretheywaitedtillthedawngatheredintheeasternsky。TheHelenspokenoword，butRei，watchingher，knewthatshewastroubledatheart，thoughhemightnotseeherfacebecauseoftheveilshewore；forfromtimetotimeshesighedandtheRedStarroseandfelluponherbreast。
Atlengththefirstarrowofthedawnfelluponthetempleporchandshespoke。
“Nowletusenter，“shesaid；“myheartforebodesevilindeed；butmuchofevilIhaveknown，andwheretheGodsdrivemethereImustgo。“
Theycametothegates，andthemanwhowatchedthemopenedtothepriestReiandtheveiledwomanwhowentwithhim，thoughhemarvelledatthebeautyofthewoman’sshape。
“Wherearethyfellow-guards？“Reiaskedofthesoldier。
“Iknownot，“heanswered，“butanonagreattumultroseinthePalace，andtheCaptainoftheGatewentthither，leavingmeonlytoguardthegate。“
“HastthouseentheLordEperitus？“Reiaskedagain。
“Nay，Ihavenotseenhimsincesupper-timelastnight，norhashevisitedtheguardasishiswont。“
Reipassedonwondering，andwithhimwentHelen。AstheytrodthePalacetheysawfolkflyingtowardsthehallofbanquetsthatisneartheQueen’schambers。Someborearmsintheirhandsandsomeborenone，butallfledeasttowardsthehallofbanquets，whencecameasoundofshouting。Nowtheydrewnearthehall，andthereatthefurtherend，wherethedoorsarethatleadtotheQueen’schambers，agreatcrowdwasgathered。
“Hidethee，lady——hidethee，“saidReitoherwhowentwithhim，“formethinksthatdeathisafoothere。See，herehangsacurtain，standthoubehinditwhileIlearnwhatthistumultmeans。“
ShesteppedbehindthecurtainthathungbetweenthepillarsasReibadeher，fornowHelen’sgentlebreastwasfulloffears，andshewasasonedazed。EvenasshesteppedonecameflyingdownthehallwhowasoftheservantsofReithePriest。
“Staythou，“Reicriedtohim，“andtellmewhathappensyonder。“
“Illdeeds，Lord，“saidtheservant。“EperitustheWanderer，whomPharaohmadeCaptainofhisGuardwhenhewentforthtoslaytherebelApura——EperitushathlaidhandsontheQueenwhomhewassettoguard。
Butshefledfromhim，andhercriesawoketheguard，andtheyfelluponhiminPharaoh’sverychamber。Someheslewwithshaftsfromthegreatblackbow，butKurritheSidoniancutthestringofthebow，andtheWandererwasbornedownbymanymen。Nowtheyhaveboundhimanddraghimtothedungeons，theretoawaitjudgmentfromthelipsofPharaoh。See，theybringhim。Imustbegoneonmyerrandtothekeeperofthedungeons。“
TheGoldenHelenheardtheshamefultale，andsuchsorrowtookherthathadshebeenmortalshehadsurelydied。Thisthenwasthemanwhomshehadchosentolove，thiswashewhomlastnightsheshouldhavewed。OncemoretheGodshadmadeamockofher。Sohaditeverbeen，soshoulditeverbe。Lovelessshehadlivedallherlifedays，nowshehadlearnedtoloveonceandforever——andthiswasthefruitofit！Sheclaspedthecurtainlestsheshouldsinktotheearth，andhearingasoundlookedforth。Amultitudeofmencamedownthehall。
Beforethemwalkedtensoldiersbearingalitterontheirshoulders。
Inthelitterlayamangaggedandfetteredwithfettersofbronzesothathemightnotstir，andtheyborehimasmenbearastagfromthechaseorawildbulltothesacrifice。ItwastheWanderer’sself，theWandererovercomeatlast，andheseemedsomightyeveninhisbonds，andhiseyesshonewithsofiercealight，thatthecrowdshrankfromhimasthoughinfear。ThusdidHelenseeherLoveandLordagainastheyborehimdishonouredtohisdungeoncell。Shesaw，andamoanandacryburstfromherheart。Amoanforherownwoeandacryfortheshameandfaithlessnessofhimwhomshemustlove。
“Oh，howfallenartthou，Odysseus，whowastofmentheveryfirst，“
shecried。
Hehearditandknewthevoiceofherwhocried，andhegazedaround。
Thegreatveinsswelleduponhisneckandforehead，andhestruggledsofiercelythathefellfromthelittertotheground。Buthemightnotrisebecauseofthefetters，norspeakbecauseofthegag，sotheyliftedhimagainandborehimthence。
AndafterhimwentallthemultitudesaveReialone。ForReiwasfalleninshameandgriefbecauseofthetalethathehadheardandofthedeedofdarknessthatthemanhelovedhaddone。Fornotyetdidherememberandlearntodoubt。Sohestoodhidinghiseyesinhishand，andashestoodHelencameforthandtouchedhimontheshoulder，saying:
“Leadmehence，oldman。Leadmebacktomytemple。MyLoveislostindeed，buttherewhereIfounditIwillabidetilltheGodsmaketheirwillcleartome。“
Hebowed，sayingnoword，andfollowingHelensteppedintothecentreofthehall。Therehestopped，indeed，fordownitcametheQueen，herhairstreaming，allherrobesdisordered，andherfacestainedwithtears。ShewasalonesaveforKurritheSidonian，whofollowedher，andshewalkedwildlyasonedistraughtwhoknowsnotwhereshegoesnorwhy。Helensawheralso。
“Whoisthisroyalladythatdrawsnear？“sheaskedofRei。
“ItisMeriamuntheQueen；shewhomtheWandererhathbroughttoshame。“
“Staythen，Iwouldspeakwithher。“
“Nay，nay，“criedRei。“Shelovestheenot，Lady，andwillslaythee。“
“Thatcannotbe，“Helenanswered。
II
THECOMINGOFPHARAOH
Presently，asshewalked，MeriamunsawReithePriestandtheveiledwomanathisside，andshesawonthewoman’sbreastaredjewelthatburntandglowedlikeaheartoffire。ThenlikefireburnedtheheartofMeriamun，forsheknewthatthiswasArgiveHelenwhostoodbeforeher，Helenwhoseshapeshehadstolenlikeathiefandwiththemindofathief。
“Say，“shecriedtoRei，whobowedbeforeher，“say，whoisthiswoman？“
ReilookedattheQueenwithterrifiedeyes，andspakeinavoiceofwarning。
“ThisisthatGoddesswhodwellsintheTempleofHathor，“hesaid。
“Letherpassinpeace，OQueen。“
“Inpeacesheshallpassindeed，“answeredMeriamun。“Whatsaidestthou，olddotard？ThatGoddess！Nay，noGoddesshavewehere，butanevil-workingwitch，whohathbroughtwoesunnumbereduponKhem。
Becauseofher，mendiemonthbymonthtillthevaultsoftheTempleofHathorarefullofherslain。Becauseofheritwasthatcurseuponcursefellontheland——thecurseofwaterturnedtoblood，ofhailandofterribledarkness，ay，andthecurseofthedeathofthefirstbornamongwhommyownsondied。Andthouhastdared，Rei，tobringthiswitchheretomyPalacehalls！ByAmenifIhadnotlovedtheealwaysthylifeshouldpaytheprice。Andthou，“andshestretchedherhandtowardstheHelen，“thouhastdaredtocome。Itiswell，nomoreshaltthoubringeviluponKhem。Hearken，slave，“andsheturnedtoKurritheSidonian；“drawthatknifeofthineandplungeittothehiltinthebreastofyonderwoman。Soshaltthouwinfreedomandallthygoodsshallbegiventheeagain。“
ThenforthefirsttimeHelenspake:
“Ichargethee，Lady，“shesaidinslowsofttones，“bidnotthyservantdothisdeed，forthoughIhavelittlewilltobringeviluponmen，yetImaynotlightlybeaffronted。“
NowKurrihungbackdoubtfullyfingeringhisdagger。
“Draw，knave，draw！“criedMeriamun，“anddomybidding，orpresentlythoushaltbeslainwiththissameknife。“
WhentheSidonianheardthesewordshecriedaloudwithfear，forhewellknewthatastheQueensaidsoitwouldbedonetohim。Instantlyhedrewthegreatknifeandrushedupontheveiledwoman。Butashecame，Helenliftedherveilsothathereyesfelluponhiseyes，andthebrightnessoftheirbeautywasrevealedtohim；andwhenhesawherlovelinesshestoppedsuddenlyasonewhoistransfixedofaspear。Thenmadnesscameuponhim，andwithacryheliftedtheknife，andplungingit，notintoherheart，butintohisown，felldowndead。
