ne, and if
so, what would happen? It was a thousand years since a woman had reigned
in Egypt, and none had reigned who were not wed. Therefore it seemed
necessary that a husband should be found for her as soon as might be.

But Pharaoh did not die. On the contrary, though very slowly, he
recovered and was stronger than he had been for years, for the fit that
struck him down seemed to have cleared his blood. For some three months
he lay helpless as a child, amusing himself as a child does with little
things, and talking of children whom he had known in his youth, or when
some of these chanced to visit him as old men, asking them to play with
him with tops or balls.

Then one day came a change, and rising from his bed he commanded the
presence of his Councillors, and when they came, inquired of them what
had happened, and why he could remember nothing since the feast.

They put him off with soft words, and soon he grew weary and dismissed
them. But after they had gone and he had eaten he sent for Mermes, the
Captain of the Guard of Amen and his friend, and questioned him.

"The last thing I remember," he said, "was seeing the drunken Prince of
Kesh fighting with your son, that handsome, fiery-eyed Count Rames whom
some fool, or enemy, had set to wait upon him at table. It was a dog's
trick, Mermes, for after all your blood is purer and more ancient than
that of the present kings of Kesh. Well, the horror of the sight of my
royal guest, the suitor for my daughter's hand, fighting with an officer
of my own guard at my own board, struck me as a butcher strikes an ox,
and after it all was blackness. What chanced, Mermes?"

"This, Pharaoh: My son killed Amathel in fair fight, then those black
Nubian giants in their fury attacked your guard, but led by Rames the
Egyptians, though they were the lesser men, overcame them and slew most
of them. I am an old soldier, but never have I seen a finer fray----"

"A finer fray! A finer fray," gasped Pharaoh. "Why this will mean a
war between Kesh and Egypt. And then? Did the Council order Rames to be
executed, as you must admit he deserved, although you are his father?"

"Not so, O Pharaoh; moreover, I admit nothing, though had he played a
coward's part before all the lords of Egypt, gladly would I have slain
him with my own hand."

"Ah!" said Pharaoh, "there speaks the soldier and the parent. Well, I
understand. He was affronted, was he not, by that bedizened black man?
Were I in