as a fearful moment! You do not know what Ameni has been to me,
and now, now!"

He hardly had ceased speaking when steps were heard approaching the
physician's room, and a young priest requested the friends to appear at
once in the meeting-room of the Initiated. In a few moments they both
entered the great hall, which was brilliantly lighted.

Not one of the chiefs of the House of Seti was absent.

Ameni sat on a raised seat at a long table; on his right hand was old
Gagabu, on his left the third Prophet of the temple. The principals of
the different orders of priests had also found places at the table, and
among them the chief of the haruspices, while the rest of the priests,
all in snow-white linen robes, sat, with much dignity, in a large
semicircle, two rows deep. In the midst stood a statue of the Goddess of
truth and justice.

Behind Ameni's throne was the many-colored image of the ibis-headed
Toth, who presided over the measure and method of things, who counselled
the Gods as well as men, and presided over learning and the arts. In a
niche at the farther end of the hall were painted the divine Triad
of Thebes, with Rameses I. and his son Seti, who approached them with
offerings. The priests were placed with strict regard to their rank, and
the order of initiation. Pentaur's was the lowest place of all.

No discussion of any importance had as yet taken place, for Ameni
was making enquiries, receiving information, and giving orders with
reference to the next day's festival. All seemed to be well arranged,
and promised a magnificent solemnity; although the scribes complained of
the scarce influx of beasts from the peasants, who were so heavily
taxed for the war, and although that feature would be wanting in the
procession which was wont to give it the greatest splendor--the presence
of the king and the royal family.

This circumstance aroused the disapprobation of some of the priests, who
were of opinion that it would be hazardous to exclude the two children
of Rameses, who remained in Thebes, from any share in the solemnities of
the feast.

Ameni then rose.

"We have sent the boy Rameri," he said, "away from this house. Bent-Anat
must be purged of her uncleanness, and if the weak superior of the
temple of Anion absolves her, she may pass for purified over there,
where they live for this world only, but not here, where it is our duty
to prepare the soul for death. The Regent, a descendant of the great
depo