ause my heart tells me that
so it is right to do, and so I think will Egypt be saved from many
troubles."

When the scribes had finished writing down these words Pharaoh asked
again:

"Prince of Egypt, if in a day to come you should fill my place, is it
still your intent to let this people of the Hebrews go unharmed, taking
with them the wealth that they have gathered here?"

"Let Pharaoh pardon me, that is still my intent."

Now at these fateful words there arose a sigh of astonishment from all
that heard them. Before it had died away Pharaoh had turned to Userti
and was asking:

"Are these your counsel, your will, and your intent also, O Princess of
Egypt?"

"Let Pharaoh hear me," answered Userti in a cold, clear voice, "they are
not. In this great matter my lord the Prince walks one road and I walk
another. My counsel, will, and intent are those of Pharaoh."

"Seti my son," said Meneptah, more kindly than I had ever heard him
speak before, "for the last time, not as your king but as your father,
I pray you to consider. Remembering that as it lies in your power,
being of full age and having been joined with me in many matters of
government, to refuse your assent to a great act of state, so it lies
in my power with the assent of the high-priests and of my ministers to
remove you from my path. Seti, I can disinherit you and set another in
your place, and if you persist, that and no less I shall do. Consider,
therefore, my son."

In the midst of an intense silence Seti answered:

"I have considered, O my Father, and whatever be the cost to me I cannot
go back upon my words."

Then Pharaoh rose and cried:

"Take note all you assembled here, and let it be proclaimed to the
people of Egypt without the gates, that they take note also, that I
depose Seti my son from his place as Prince of Egypt and declare that
he is removed from the succession to the double Crown. Take note that
my daughter Userti, Princess of Egypt, wife of the Prince Seti, I do not
depose. Whatever rights and heritages are hers as heiress of Egypt let
those rights and heritages remain to her, and if a child be born of
her and Prince Seti, who lives, let that child be heir to the Throne of
Egypt. Take note that, if no such child is born or until it is born,
I name my nephew, the count Amenmeses, son of by brother Khaemuas, now
gathered to Osiris, to fill the Throne of Egypt when I am no more. Come
hither, Count Amenmeses."

He advanced and