resh, if there be any need. Now come,
and I will guard you to the gates of the old temple of Sekhet, where
Pharaoh dwells."

CHAPTER IX

THE DOOM OF PHARAOH

On the morrow when the lady Asti came to dress the Queen for that
day's ceremony, she asked her if Amen had given her the wisdom that she
sought.

"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 say
that she was about to bring some evil upon our House."

"It may well be so, Queen," answered Asti, "and in that case I think
that she is at the work. At any rate, watching from the little window
of my room, by the light of the moon I saw her return across the temple
court at midnight. Moreover, it seemed to me that she was carrying
something beneath her robe."

"Whence did she return?"

"From the city, I suppose. She has Pharaoh's pass, and can go in and
out when she will. I have caused Mermes to question the officer of the
guard, and he says that she came to the gate accompanied by a tall man
wrapped 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 we
thought. I tried to send out a man to Thebes this morning with a message
on my own account--never mind what it was--and the sentries turned him
back."

"By the gods!" exclaimed Tua, "before I have reigned a year every gate
in Memphis shall be melted down for cooking vessels, and I will set
their captains to work in the desert mines. Nay, such threats are
foolishness, I'll not threaten, I'll strike when the time comes, but
that 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 is
time to start for this ceremony of the laying of the foundation-stone of
the temple, whither you accompany him in state. Also it is as well--by
to-night we may learn more. Come, let me set the crown upon your head
that these dogs of Memphis may know their mistress."

The ceremony proved very wearisome. First there was the long chariot
ride through the crowded, shouting streets, Pharaoh and Abi g