Therefore she takes it of her own strength, now and for evermore."
Then very slowly, still in the midst of silence, she mounted the greater
throne that had been prepared for Abi, and there seated herself and
waited.
Now murmuring rose among the courtiers and Kaku whispered into Abi's
ear, while the multitude held its breath. Abi stamped his foot and
issued orders which all seemed to fear to execute. At length he stepped
forward, addressing the Queen in a hoarse voice.
"Lady," he said, "doubtless you know it not, but that place is mine;
your seat is on my left. Be pleased to take it."
"Why so, Prince Abi?" she asked quietly.
"Lady," he answered, "because the husband takes precedence of the wife,
and," he added with savage meaning, "the conqueror of the conquered."
"The conqueror of the conquered?" she repeated after him in a musing
voice. "Should you not have said--the murderer of the murdered and his
seed? Nay, Prince Abi, you are wrong. The sovereign of Egypt by right
divine, takes precedence of her vassal, even though it has pleased the
gods, whose will she has come to execute, to command her to give to him
the name of husband until that will is more fully known.
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