reathed in a terrified whisper. "Rameses! And an hour
ago I talked with him--so strong, so resolute, so full of life--O Holy
Isis!"

"It is a pestilence sent by Mesu. The whole city is afflicted. Ptah
shield us!"

The hangings that covered the entrance to each suite of chambers had
been thrown aside and the interiors were vacant. But the farther end
of the hall was filled with terrified courtiers in all attitudes and
degrees of extravagant demonstration of grief. Men and women were
fallen here and there on the pavement or supporting themselves by
pillar and wall, wailing, tearing their hair, wounding their faces,
rending their garments.

All the dwellers of the palace were flocked about the apartments of
Rameses. From the entrance into these chambers issued sounds of the
wildest nature. Masanath heard and attempted to draw away from the
fan-bearer.

"Take me not into that awful place!" she pleaded. "How canst thou
force me, my father!"

But Har-hat did not seem to hear and pushed his way, still dragging her
through the crush of shaking attendants that crowded into the outer
chambers.

The sleeping-room of the heir was the focal spot of violent sorrow.

The royal pair, the king's ministers, the immediate companions of
Rameses, the high priest from the Rameside temple to Set at Tanis and a
corps of leeches were present. The couch was surrounded.

Seti was not present, for only in the last moment had some one realized
that the young prince should be brought. Hotep had gone to conduct him
to the chamber.

The queen, inert and lifeless, lay on the floor at the foot of the
prince's bed. Most of the physicians bent over her. Her women,
chiefly the wives of the ministers, were hysterical and helpless.

But it was Meneptah who froze the hearts of his courtiers with horror.

Because of his obstinacy Egypt had gone down into famine, pestilence
and destruction. Without more than ordinary concern he had watched the
hand of the scourge pursue it into ruin till what time he should
relent, and he had not relented.

But now that dread Hand had entered within the boundaries of his loves
and had smitten Rameses, his heir, his idol!

The effect upon him was terrible. The death chamber rang like a
torture dungeon. Nechutes and Menes, by united efforts, barely
prevented him from doing self-murder. The earnest attempts of the
priest to quiet him were totally useless. Nothing could have been more
shocking.