hee!"

"Stand thou there! I have not done with thee."

The thin nostril of the fan-bearer expanded and quivered wrathfully.

"Have a care, thou insolent!" he exclaimed.

Kenkenes did not seem to hear him. He had turned toward Meneptah.

"I have dared over-far, my King," he said, "because of my love for
Egypt and my concern for thee. Bear with me further, I pray thee."

Meneptah bent his head in assent.

"Suffer mine inquiry, O Son of Ptah. Wilt thou tell me upon whose
persuasion thou hast gathered thine army and set forth to pursue
Israel?"

"Upon the persuasion of Har-hat, my minister."

"Yet this question further, my King. Wherefore would he have thee
overtake these people?"

"Since it was foolish to let them go, being my slaves, my builders and
very needful to Egypt. But most particularly to execute vengeance upon
them for the death of my Rameses, and for the first-born of Egypt."

"Ye hear," Kenkenes said to the nobles. Then he faced Har-hat. The
fan-bearer's countenance showed a remarkable increase of temper, but
there was no sign of apprehension or discomfiture upon it.

"Thou hast beheld the grace of thy king under question," Kenkenes said
calmly. "Therefore thou art denied the plea that submission to the
same thing will belittle thee. Thy best defense is patience and prompt
answer."

"Perchance the king will recall his graceful testimony," Har-hat
replied with heat, "when he learns he hath been entangled in the guilty
pursuit of a miscreant after--"

Kenkenes stopped him with a menacing gesture.

"Say it not; nor tempt me further! Thou speakest of a quarrel between
thee and me, and of that there may be more hereafter. Now, thou art to
answer to mine impeachment of thee as an offender against the Pharaoh."

Har-hat received the declaration with a wrathful exclamation.

"Thou! Thou to accuse me! I to plead before thee! By the gods, the
limit is reached. The ranks of Egypt have been juggled, the law of
deference reversed! A noble to bow to an artisan! Age to give account
of itself to green youth!"

"And thou pratest of law! The benefits of law are for him who obeys
it; the reverence of youth is for the honorable old. But thou wastest
mine opportunity. Thou shalt silence me no longer.

"Thy dearest enemy, O Har-hat," Kenkenes continued, "would not impugn
thy wits. He deserves the epithet himself who calls thee fool. But be
not puffed up for this thing I have said. Thou