"I have spoken.

A decree of Pharaoh may not be changed, and though a woman, I am--Pharaoh." Now Abi went white with rage, and turned to his guard to bid them drag her from the throne.

But she who was watching him, suddenly lifted her sceptre and spoke in a new voice, a clear, strong voice that rang through the hall, and even reached those who were gathered on the steps without.
"There is a question between you and me, O People," she said, "and it is this--Shall I, your Queen, rule in Egypt, as my fathers ruled, or shall yonder man rule whom by the decree of Amen I have taken for husband?
Now you who for the most part have the Hyksos blood running in your veins, as he has, desire that he should rule, and you have slain the good god, my father, and would make Abi king over you, and see me his handmaid, one to give him children of my royal race, no more.

See, you are a multitude and my legions are far away, and I--I am alone, one lamb among the jackals, thousands and thousands of jackals who for a long while have been hungry.

How, then, shall I match myself against you ?" "You cannot," shouted a wild-eyed spokesman.