And who are you to advise me thus?
Are you still the same man who made the condition that, if you used your arts, whatever they may be, to place her in my power, she should be, not only my Empress, but also Queen of Egypt?
What has changed you?
What has made you faithless to the promise that you gave me in exchange for mine?
If you have forgotten that, do not also forget that we Russians have a short way with traitors." "What has changed me, Highness," replied Phadrig, ignoring the threat, "is the knowledge that I have gained to-night.

Though you believe me or not, the debt which I owe you makes it my duty to warn you.

The matter stands thus: Nitocris, the daughter of Franklin Marmion, was the Queen.
For all I know, she also may have attained to the higher life, and is therefore the Queen still, though that is a mystery beyond my comprehension; but I do know now that her father has attained to it, and that for this reason, unless you put this new-found love out of your heart, you will bring yourself within the sphere of this man's power--a power mighty enough to wreck every scheme you have ever shaped, and to doom you to a fate more horrible than mortal brain could conceive.

You would be as a man who strove against a god." "You may believe what you are saying, Phadrig, and I dare say you do," exclaimed the Prince again.

"I don't, because I can't; but even if I did, I would claim your promise.