cination the development of the heir's character. He
was twenty-two years old now and had proved that no alien nature had
been housed in the old Pharaoh's shape. If any pointed out the
prince's indolence as proving him unlike his grandsire the old
courtiers shook their heads and said: "He does not reign as yet and he
but saves his forces till the crown is his." So Egypt, stagnated at
the pinnacle of power by the accession of Meneptah, began to look
forward secretly to the reign of Rameses the Younger, with a hope that
was half terror.

To-night he stood in semi-dusk robed in festal attire, for somewhere a
rout awaited him. And of the groups of power and rank about him, none
seemed to fit that majestic council chamber so well as he. It was not
the robe of costly stuffs he wore, nor the trappings of jewels, which
if he moved never so slightly emitted a shower of frosty sparks--but a
peculiar emanation of magnetism that at once repelled and attracted,
and made him master over the monarch himself. He had never met repulse
or defeat; he had never entered the presence of his peer; he had never
loved, he had never prayed. He was a solitary power, who admitted
death as his only equal, and defied even him.

The other counselors were minor members of the cabinet, who had been
summoned, but expected only to hear and keep silence while the great
powers--the king, the prince, the priest and the fan-bearer--conferred.

Loi entered, bowing and walking with palsied step. At one time the
three central figures of the hall had been his pupils. He had taught
them from the simplest hieratic catechism to the initiation into the
mysteries. As novices they had kissed his hand and borne him
reverence. Now as the initiated, exalted through the acquisition of
power, it lay with them to reverse conditions if they pleased. But as
the old prelate prepared to do obeisance before Meneptah, he was stayed
with a gesture, and after a word of greeting was dismissed to his
place. Rameses saluted him with a motion of his hand and Har-hat bowed
reverently. The pontiff backed away to the great council table set
opposite the throne and was met there by a courtier with a chair.

At a sign from the king, who had already sunk into his throne, the old
man sat.

"Thou bringest us tidings, holy Father?"

"Even so, O Son of Ptah."

"Say on."

The priest moved a little uncomfortably and glanced at the ministers
grouped in the shadows.

"Save