"It is for me to admit Egypt's sin and ask a truce," he said gently.
"So be thou generous to me, since it is I who am abashed in her stead."
Again there was silence, broken at last by the Israelite in a voice grown wondrously contrite.
"I do not reproach thee. Nor, indeed, is all Egypt at fault. The sin lies with the Pharaohs."
"Ah! the gods forbid!" he protested. "Lay it on the shoulders of babes, if thou wilt, but I am party to treason if I but give ear to a rebuke of the monarch."
"I am not ignorant of the law. I shall spare thee, but I have purchased my right to condemn the king."
"Thou indomitable! And I accused thee of fear. I retract. But tell me—what is the journey's end? Is it the ultimate goal of all flesh?"
"Not so," she answered proudly. "It is Israel's inheritance promised for four hundred years. The time is ripe for possession. We go forward to enter into a land of our own."
"Thou givest me news. Come, be the Hebrews' historian and enlighten me. Where lies the land?"
Rachel hesitated. To her it was a serious problem to decide whether the lightness of the sculptor's tone were mockery or good fellowship. Kenkenes noted her silence and spoke again.
"Perchance I ask after a hieratic secret. If so, forgive the blunder."