Now the fury of the people rose against me, and they ravened round the palace like lions of the desert, roaring for my blood.

Yet it was as though they could not enter here, since whenever they rushed at the gates or walls, they fell back again, for some spirit seemed to protect the place.

The days went by; the night came again and at the dawn, this dawn that is past, once more I stood upon the terrace, and once more the cloaked man appeared from among the trees.
"'Now you have heard, Moon of Israel,' he said, 'and now you must believe and come, although you think yourself safe because at the beginning of the plagues this, the home of Seti, was enchanted against evil, so that none within it can be harmed.' "'I have heard, and I think that I believe, though how the tidings reached Memphis in an hour I do not understand.

Yet, stranger, I say to you that it is not enough.' "Then the man drew a papyrus roll from his bosom and threw it at my feet.

I opened it and read.