Delethi. You do not know, Hanou, you tell us what you do not know.
Hanou. But it is so, is it not, Zaya? Zaya knows about the ceremony, because last year it was her sister who was chosen.
Mouene. Tell us, Zaya.
Nahasi. Yes, tell us the manner of it.
Zaya. On the fifth day of the month of Paophi....
Mouene. To-day—that is to-day?
Nahasi. Yes. What will happen.... The prayer of Isis.... But afterwards? Before?
They gather round Zaya.
Zaya. Before the sun has ended his day's journey, the people, summoned to the terraces by a call from the Temple, will intone the great hymn to Isis, which is sung but once a year. Within the house of the god the assembled priests will await the sign that shall reveal the virgin to be offered to the Nile to obtain its yearly flood. The name of the chosen will be cried from the doorway on high, caught up by those who hear it first, cried out to others, who in turn will cry it running towards the house that Ammon has favored with his choice. Then shall the happy victim of the year stand forth alone, amid her kinsfolk bowed before her, and to her ears shall rise the shoutings of the multitude.
All. Oh!