"'To bribe him, when he menaced me with the betrayal of what he knew!' was the queen's almost fierce rejoinder.
"'But why make him the admiral of your fleet of the Nile?'
"'Another bribe when he renewed his threats to inform you—'
"'Me!' I exclaimed.
"'Did I say you? No! no!' she cried, checking herself; 'when he menaced me with the betrayal of the dreadful secret.'
"'And, my dear mother, who was interested to know it, whom would it benefit or injure?' I asked, lost in amazement.
"'Injure one whom—whom I love—destroy my happiness and hopes—benefit Mœris himself!' she answered coloring with deepest confusion and alarm.
"'Why not crush such a dangerous subject when he menaces your peace?' I demanded, my whole spirit roused for my mother, and my indignation excited against this wicked man. 'If thy happiness is thus menaced, O my mother, if this prince is the cause of all your sorrow, say the word, and in thirty days hence, he shall be brought bound in chains to your feet.'
"'Nay, Remeses, I dare not. One word from his lips, though he were in chains, would reveal all it has been the study of my life to conceal, and give him all the revenge his bitter spirit would ask. No, no! Mœris must not be made angry. It is only his ambitious hopes that keep him quiet.'
"What are these hopes?" I inquired, feeling that henceforth Mœris and I were mortal foes.