ures--that two thousand of the choicest troops of Egypt shall sail up
Nile, forthwith, for Kesh, and that in command of them, so that all
may know his crime, shall go the young Count Rames, and with him those
others who also did the deed of blood."

Now at this announcement, which sounded more like promotion than
disgrace, some started and Rames looked up, quivering in all his limbs.

"I proclaim," went on Tua quickly, "that when they are come to Napata
they shall kneel before its king and submit themselves to the judgment
of his Majesty, and having been judged, shall return and report to us
the judgment of his Majesty, that it may be carried out as his Majesty
of Kesh shall appoint. Let the troops and the ships be made ready this
very night, and meanwhile, save when he appears before us to take his
orders as general, in token of our wrath, we banish the Count Rames from
our Court and Presence, and place his companions under guard."

So spoke Tua, and the royal decree having been written down swiftly and
read aloud, she sealed and signed with her sign-manual as Queen, that it
might not be changed or altered, and commanded that copies of it should
be sent to all the Governors of the Nomes of Egypt, and a duplicate
prepared and despatched with this royal embassy, for so she named it, to
be delivered to the King of Kesh with the letters of condolence, and the
presents of ceremony, and the body of Amathel, the Prince of Kesh, now
divine in Osiris.

Then, at length, the doors were thrown open and the company dispersed,
Rames and the guard being led away by the Council and placed in safe
keeping. Also Pharaoh, still senseless but breathing quietly, was
carried to his bed, and the dead were taken to the embalmers, whilst
Tua, so weary that she could scarcely walk, departed to her chambers
leaning on the shoulder of the royal Nurse, Asti, the mother of Rames.

CHAPTER VI

THE OATH OF RAMES AND OF TUA

Still robed Tua lay upon a couch, for she would not seek her bed, while
Asti stood near to her, a dark commanding figure.

"Your Majesty has done strange things to-night," said Asti in her quiet
voice.

Tua turned her head and looked at her, then answered:

"Very strange, Nurse. You see, the gods and that troublesome son of
yours and Pharaoh's sudden sickness threw the strings of Fate into
my hand, and--I pulled them. I always had a fancy for the pulling of
strings, but the chance never came my way before."

"It s