CHAPTER IX
THE DOOM OF PHARAOH
On the morrow when the lady Asti came to dress the Queen for thatday's ceremony, she asked her if Amen had given her the wisdom that shesought.
"Not so," answered the young Queen, "all he gave me was very bad dreams,and in every one of them was mixed up that waiting woman of my father,Merytra, of whom you spoke to me. If I believed in omens I should saythat she was about to bring some evil upon our House."
"It may well be so, Queen," answered Asti, "and in that case I thinkthat she is at the work. At any rate, watching from the little windowof my room, by the light of the moon I saw her return across the templecourt at midnight. Moreover, it seemed to me that she was carryingsomething beneath her robe."
"Whence did she return?"
"From the city, I suppose. She has Pharaoh's pass, and can go in andout when she will. I have caused Mermes to question the officer of theguard, and he says that she came to the gate accompanied by a tall manwrapped in a dark cloak, who spoke with her earnestly, and left her.From this description I think it must have been the astrologer, Kaku,with whom she was talking at the feast."
"That is bad news, Nurse. What else have you to tell?"
"Only this, Queen. The gates are guarded more closely even than wethought. I tried to send out a man to Thebes this morning with a messageon my own account--never mind what it was--and the sentries turned himback."
"By the gods!" exclaimed Tua, "before I have reigned a year every gatein Memphis shall be melted down for cooking vessels, and I will settheir captains to work in the desert mines. Nay, such threats arefoolishness, I'll not threaten, I'll strike when the time comes, butthat is not yet. Can I speak with the Pharaoh?"
"No, Queen. He is up already giving audience to the nobles of Memphis,and trying cases from the Lower Land with his Counsellors; until it istime to start for this ceremony of the laying of the foundation-stone ofthe temple, whither you accompany him in state. Also it is as well--byto-night we may learn more. Come, let me set the crown upon your headthat these dogs of Memphis may know their mistress."
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