t favor. I will give thee," continued
she, sobbing, "a cage of pigeons. They were hatched out and reared
here; hence, as often as Thou rememberest thy servant, open the cage
and set one of them free; it will bring me tidings of thee, and I will
kiss and fondle it as as But go now!"

The prince embraced her and went to the barge, telling his black
attendant to wait for the pigeons.

At sight of the heir, drums and fifes sounded, and the garrison raised
a loud shout of welcome. When he found himself among warriors, the
prince drew a deep breath, and stretched out his arms, like a man
liberated from bondage.

"Well," said he to Tutmosis, "women have tormented me, and those Jews O
Cyrus! command to roast me on a slow fire at once, but put me not in
the country a second time."

"So it is," confirmed Tutmosis; "love is like honey. It must be taken
by sips, a man must not swim in it. Brr! shudders pass over me when I
think that Thou hast passed nearly two months fed on kisses in the
evening, dates in the morning, and asses' milk at midday."

"Sarah is a very good girl," said Ramses.

"I do not speak of her, but of those Jews who have settled down at that
villa like papyrus in swamp land. Dost Thou see, they are looking out
at thee yet, and perhaps are sending greetings," said the flatterer.

The prince turned to another side with displeasure, and Tutmosis winked
joyfully at the officers, as if to tell them that Ramses would not
leave their society very soon this time.

The higher they ascended the Nile the denser on both banks were
spectators, the more numerous were boats on the river, and the more did
flowers, garlands, and bouquets float down; these had been thrown at
the barge of the pharaoh.

About five miles above Memphis there were multitudes of people with
banners, with statues of gods, and with music; an immense roar was
heard, like the sound of a tempest.

"There is his holiness!" cried Tutmosis, delighted.

One spectacle was presented to the eyes of the onlookers: in the middle
of a broad bend in the river sailed the great barge of the pharaoh,
rising in front like the breast of a swan. At the right and left sides
of it, like two giant wings, pushed forward the countless boats of his
subjects, and in the rear, like a rich fan, stretched the retinue of
the ruler of Egypt.

Every one living shouted, sang, clapped hands, and threw flowers at the
feet of the lord whom no one even saw. It was enough that un