"Kama," said the chief, "the goddess Astaroth has touched thee with leprosy."
"It was not the goddess!" said she, with a changed voice. "It was the low Asiatics, who threw in a tainted veil to me. Oh, I am unfortunate!"
"Kama," continued the chief, "our most famous high priests, Sem and Mefres, have taken compassion on thee. If Thou wilt tell the truth, they will pray for thee, and perhaps the all-mighty Osiris will turn from thee misfortune. There is still time, the disease is only beginning, and our gods have great power."
The sick woman fell on her knees, and pressing her face against the grating, said in a broken voice,
"Have compassion on me! I have renounced Phoenician gods, and to the end of life will serve the gods of Egypt. Only avert from me."
"Answer, but answer truly," said the chief, "and the gods will not refuse thee their favor. Who killed the child of the Jewess Sarah?"
"The traitor, Lykon, the Greek. He was a singer in our temple, and said that he loved me. But he has rejected me, the infamous traitor, and seized my jewels."
"Why did Lykon kill the child?"
"He wanted to kill the prince, but not finding him in the palace, he ran to Sarah's villa."
"How did the criminal enter a house that was guarded?"