addressed again by those
mysterious voices which ceased in Memphis after I dismissed the
priesthood. I cannot receive therefore any one in my own chamber, but
must leave the palace and take counsel with my servants in a safe
place."

"Am I to follow thee, holiness?" inquired Tutmosis, seeing that the
pharaoh was looking around for his mantle.

"No; Thou must stay here and see that no one enters my chamber. Admit
no person, not even my mother, not even the shade of my ever-living
father. Thou wilt say that I am asleep and will see no one."

"It will be as Thou hast said," replied Tutmosis, putting on his lord a
hooded mantle. Then he quenched the light in the bed-chamber and Ramses
went out through side passages.

When he was in the garden Ramses stopped and looked on all sides with
attention. Then, taking bearings, he started quickly toward the villa
which he had given Tutmosis. After he had walked some minutes in a
shady alley a man stood before him and inquired,

"Who goes?"

"Nubia," answered the pharaoh.

"Libya," said the inquirer, and pushed back suddenly, as if frightened.

The man was an officer of the guard. The pharaoh looked at him, and
said,

"Ah, this is Eunana! What art Thou doing in this place?"

"I am going around the gardens; I do so a couple of times nightly, for
thieves steal in sometimes."

"Thou dost wisely. But remember the first duty of an officer of the
guard is silence. Drive the thief out, but if Thou meet a man in office
seize him not, be silent, be silent always. Even if the high priest
Herhor were in question."

"Oh lord!" exclaimed Eunana, "but command me not to do homage in the
night to Herhor, or to Mefres. I am not sure that my sword at sight of
them would not spring of itself from the scabbard."

Ramses smiled.

"Thy sword is mine," replied he, "and it may leave the scabbard only
when I give the order." He nodded to Eunana and passed on.

After wandering a quarter of an hour by paths intended to mislead, the
pharaoh found himself near a secret gate in a thicket. It seemed to him
that he heard a rustle, and he said in a low voice,

"Hebron!"

A figure, also in a dark mantle, ran out, rushed at Ramses and clung to
his neck, whispering,

"Is it thou? is it thou? Oh, how long I have waited!"

The pharaoh felt that she was slipping from his embrace, so he took her
in his arms and carried her to an arbor. At that moment the mantle fell
from his shoulders; he dragged