Sarah sprang to her feet suddenly, and, looking at Mefres, cried in a terrible voice,
"A curse on you! Ye wished to have a Jew king, and here is the king for you. Oh, why did I, unfortunate, listen to your traitorous advice!"
She dropped, and fell again at the side of the cradle, groaning,
"My son my little Seti! How beautiful he was, so cunning; just stretching out his little hands to me! O Jehovah! give him back to me, for that is in Thy power. O gods of Egypt, Osiris, Horus, Isis, O Isis, for Thou too wert a mother! It cannot be that in the heavens there is not one who will listen to my prayer. Such a dear, little child! A hyena would have spared him."
The high priest took her by the arms, and put her on her feet. The police and the servants filled the room.
"Sarah," said the high priest, "in the name of his holiness, the lord of Egypt, I summon thee, and command thee to answer, Who killed thy son?"
She gazed straight ahead, like a maniac, and rubbed her forehead.
The nomarch gave her water and wine, and one of the women present sprinkled her with vinegar.
"In the name of his holiness," repeated Mefres, "I command thee, Sarah, to tell the name of the murderer."
Those present withdrew toward the door; the nomarch with despairing action closed both his ears.