_He goes. Rheou accompanies him. Mieris enters, bearing flowers and led by Yaouma._
_Yaouma goes out. Mieris left alone makes several hesitating steps toward the statue of Isis, then goes up to it and touches it. A pause._
_A gesture of disillusion. She draws slowly away from the statue, letting her flowers fall, broken-hearted, and begins to weep. Rheou returns._
RHEOU. Why, Mieris--do you bring flowers to Isis still?
MIERIS. It is the last time. Listen, Rheou--We mast ask Satni to heal me. Do not tell me it is not possible; he has healed Ahmarsti.
MIERIS, Yes. He made her drink a liquid wherein no doubt a good genius was hidden, and the evil spirit that tormented her was driven forth.
MIERIS. Kitoui, the cripple, went this morning to draw water from the Nile, before all her neighbors who marvelled and cried with joy. And she had merely touched the hem of his garment, even without his knowing it. He has healed the child of Riti, too, he knows gods more powerful than ours--younger gods, perhaps, our gods are so old--If it were not so, how could he have walked unscathed the road where the scarabs lay, that day when he came home? Since then, men have seen him do a thousand forbidden things, have seen him defy our gods by disrespect. Without the protection of a higher power, how could he escape the chastisement whereof another had died? Who are his gods? Rheou, he must make them known to you.
RHEOU. The reason he gives is absurd--he says there are no gods--
MIERIS. No gods! no gods!--he is mocking you.
MIERIS. Rheou, know you that this Ahmarsti--these two years now, on the day of Prodigies, have I heard her at my side howling prayers at the goddess that were never answered.
RHEOU. I know. Satni declares he could have healed all whom the goddess has relieved.
MIERIS [_to herself_] He relieves even those women whom she abandons--[_After a pause_] He must teach you the words that work these miracles.
MIERIS. Threaten him with death--he will speak.
MIERIS [_with excitement_] But you do not understand me!--he has healed Ahmarsti, he has healed Kitoui, wherefore should he not heal me?
RHEOU [_sadly_] Ah! Mieris, Mieris, think you I waited for your prayer, to ask him that?
RHEOU. I could gain nothing but these words from him: "Could I overcome the evil Mieris suffers from, even now should she rejoice in the splendor of day."