"Why command, worthiness, to turn away our barge?" asked the worthy
Nikotris.
"Lady, dost Thou know that hymn?" asked Herhor, in a language understood by priests alone. "That stupid girl is singing in the middle of the Nile a prayer permitted only in the most secret recesses of our temples."
"Is that blasphemy then?"
"There is no priest in the barge except me," replied the minister. "I have not heard the hymn, and if I had I should forget it. Still I am afraid that the gods will lay hands on that girl yet."
"But whence does she know that awful prayer, for Ramses could not have taught it to her?"
"The prince is not to blame. But forget not, lady, that the Jews have taken from our Egypt many such treasures. That is why, among all nations on earth, we consider them alone as sacrilegious."
The queen seized the hand of the high priest.
"But my son will no evil strike him?" whispered she, looking into his eyes.
"I say, worthiness, that no evil will happen to any one. I heard not the hymn, and I know nothing. The prince must be separated from that Jewess."
"But separated mildly; is that not the way?" asked the mother.