ind and was silent, perhaps because Pharaoh's word once
spoken could not be altered. Bakenkhonsu remained also as a Councillor
of the King according to his right.

When all had gone Pharaoh, who had been brooding, lifted his head and
spoke slowly but in the voice of one who gives a judgment that may not
be questioned, saying:

"Prince Seti, you are my only son born of Queen Ast-Nefert, royal
Sister, royal Mother, who sleeps in the bosom of Osiris. It is true that
you are not my first-born son, since the Count Ramessu"--here he pointed
to a stout mild-faced man of pleasing, rather foolish appearance--"is
your elder by two years. But, as he knows well, his mother, who is still
with us, is a Syrian by birth and of no royal blood, and therefore he
can never sit upon the throne of Egypt. Is it not so, my son Ramessu?"

"It is so, O Pharaoh," answered the Count in a pleasant voice, "not do I
seek ever to sit upon that throne, who am well content with the
offices and wealth that Pharaoh has been pleased to confer upon me, his
first-born."

"Let the words of the Count Ramessu be written down," said Pharaoh, "and
placed in the temple of Ptah of this city, and in the temples of Ptah
at Memphis and of Amon at Thebes, that hereafter they may never be
questioned."

The scribes in attendance wrote down the words and, at a sign from the
Prince Seti, I also wrote them down, setting the papyrus I had with me
on my knee. When this was finished Pharaoh went on.

"Therefore, O Prince Seti, you are the heir of Egypt and perhaps, as
those Hebrew prophets said, will ere long be called upon to sit in my
place on its throne."

"May the King live for ever!" exclaimed Seti, "for well he knows that I
do not seek his crown and dignities."

"I do know it well, my son; so well that I wish you thought more of that
crown and those dignities which, if the gods will, must come to you. If
they will it not, next in the order of succession stands your cousin,
the Count Amenmeses, who is also of royal blood both on his father's
and his mother's side, and after him I know not who, unless it be
my daughter and your half-sister, the royal Princess Userti, Lady of
Egypt."

Now Userti spoke, very earnestly, saying:

"O Pharaoh, surely my right in the succession, according to ancient
precedent, precedes that of my cousin, the Count Amenmeses."

Amenmeses was about to answer, but Pharaoh lifted his hand and he was
silent.

"It is matter for those le