e while
Rames seems to be in the way of it. But those who are set high have far
to fall, O Queen, and--forgive me--he is my only child. Now when Pharaoh
recovers----"

"Rames will be far away," broke in Tua. "Go, bring him here at once, and
with him the Vizier and the chief scribe of the Council. Take this ring,
it will open all doors," and she drew the signet from her finger and
handed it to him.

"At this hour, your Majesty?" said Mermes in a doubtful voice.

"Have I not spoken," she answered impatiently. "When the welfare of
Egypt is at stake I do not sleep."

So Mermes bowed and went, and while he was gone Tua caused Asti to
smooth her hair and change her robe and ornaments for others which,
although she did not say so, she thought became her better. Then she
sat her down in a chair of state in her chamber of audience, and waited,
while Asti stood beside her asking no questions, but wondering.

At length the doors were opened, and through them appeared Mermes and
the Vizier and the chief of the scribes, both of them trying to hide
their yawns, for they had been summoned from their beds who were not
wont to do state business at such hours. After them limped Rames, for
his wound had grown stiff, who looked bewildered, but otherwise just as
he had left the feast.

Now, without waiting for the greetings of ceremony, Tua began to
question the Vizier as to what steps had been taken in furtherance of
her decrees, and when he assured her that the business was on foot, went
into its every detail with him, as to the ships and the officers and the
provisioning of the men, and so forth. Next she set herself to dictate
despatches to the captains and barons who held the fortresses on the
Upper Nile, communicating to them Pharaoh's orders on this matter, and
the commission of Rames, whereby he, whose hands had done the ill, was
put in command of the great embassy that went to make amends.

These being finished, she sent away the scribe to spend the rest of the
night in writing them in duplicate, bidding him bring them to her in the
early morning to be sealed. Next addressing Rames, she commanded him to
start on the morrow with those troops which were ready to Takensit
above the first Cataract of the Nile, which was the frontier fortress of
Egypt, and there wait until the remainder of the soldiers joined them,
bearing with them her presents to the King of Kesh, and the embalmed
body of the Prince Amathel.

Rames bowed and