Settle your account with
him as you and his wife may wish; it is no matter of mine. But I warn
you that if you would take men's lives for such a fault as this, soon
you will have no servants left, since they all are sinners who desire to
usurp your place."
Then Abi's fury broke out. He cursed and reviled her, he called her by
ill names, swearing that she should die, who bewitched all men and was
the love of none, and who made him a mock and a shame in the sight of
Egypt. But Neter-Tua only listened until at length he raved himself to
silence.
"You talk much and do little," she said at length. "The sword is in your
hand, use it, I am here."
Maddened by her scorn he lifted the weapon and rushed at her, only to
reel back again as though he had been smitten by some power unseen. He
rested against the wall, then again rushed and again reeled back.
"You are a poor butcher," she said at length, "after so many years of
practice. Let Kaku yonder try. I think he has more skill in murder."
"Oh! your Majesty," broke in the astrologer, "unsay those cruel words,
you who know that rather than lift hands against you I would die a
thousand times.
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