"Hast thou forgotten that Nechutes leaves Memphis with the going of the king?"
The lady started and flung a conscience-stricken glance at the scowling cup-bearer. And while her face was turned, Kenkenes departed like a shadow. But the portals of the nomarch's house had hardly closed behind him before he demanded of himself, impatiently, why he had made Nechutes' peace, why he kept the cup-bearer for ever between himself and Ta-meri. And as if to evade this catechism something arose in him and asked him why he should not.
And to this he could give no answer.
[1] Mohar—The king's pioneer, an office that might be defined as minister of war.
CHAPTER X
THE DEBT OF ISRAEL
For an instant after the sculptor had put the collar about her throat, Rachel stood motionless, her face flushing and whitening with conflicting emotions.
But her indecision was only momentary. Rebellion was in the ascendant.
She thrust her fingers under the band and essayed to wrench off the offending necklace, but the stout fastening held and the flexible braid printed its woof on the back of the soft neck. Almost in tears she undid the clasp and flung the collar away.
It struck the earth with a musical ring, and the green of the wheat hid all but a faint ray of the red metal.