heard the sweep of her silken
robe upon the alabaster floor.

With an effort two chamberlains stepped forward, their wands of office
in their hands, to lead her to her seat, but she waved them back, and
said in her clear voice:

"Nay, here I am alone; of all the millions who serve her, not one is
left to lead Amen's daughter and Egypt's Queen to her rightful place.
Therefore she takes it of her own strength, now and for evermore."

Then very slowly, still in the midst of silence, she mounted the greater
throne that had been prepared for Abi, and there seated herself and
waited.

Now murmuring rose among the courtiers and Kaku whispered into Abi's
ear, while the multitude held its breath. Abi stamped his foot and
issued orders which all seemed to fear to execute. At length he stepped
forward, addressing the Queen in a hoarse voice.

"Lady," he said, "doubtless you know it not, but that place is mine;
your seat is on my left. Be pleased to take it."

"Why so, Prince Abi?" she asked quietly.

"Lady," he answered, "because the husband takes precedence of the wife,
and," he added with savage meaning, "the conqueror of the conquered."

"The conqueror of the conquered?" she repeated after him in a musing
voice. "Should you not have said--the murderer of the murdered and his
seed? Nay, Prince Abi, you are wrong. The sovereign of Egypt by right
divine, takes precedence of her vassal, even though it has pleased the
gods, whose will she has come to execute, to command her to give to him
the name of husband until that will is more fully known. Come now and do
homage to your Queen, and after you those slaves of yours who dared to
lift the sword against her."

Then a great tumult arose, a tumult of rage and of dismay, for well nigh
all in that vast place were partners in this crime, and knew that if
Neter-Tua prevailed death yawned wide for them.

They shouted to Abi to take no heed of her. They shouted to him to tear
her from the throne, to kill her, and seize the crown. They drew their
swords and raged like an angry sea. Those who were loyal among them to
Pharaoh's House, and those who feared turmoil, began to work their way
backwards, and slipped by twos and threes out of the great open doors,
till Tua had no friend left in all that hall. But ever as they went,
others of the turbulent and the rebellious who had been concerned in the
slaughter of Pharaoh's guard, took their place, pouring in from the mob
without.

Wil