light of the moon; in his ears the song of the Greek was still
sounding. But that temple of Astaroth!

He could not sleep till morning.

CHAPTER XXXII

Next day the prince rose late, bathed himself and dressed, then
summoned Tutmosis.

The exquisite appeared at once, dressed carefully and perfumed. He
looked sharply at the prince to learn in what humor he was, and to fix
his own features correspondingly. But on the face of Ramses was only
weariness.

"Well," asked the prince, yawning, "art Thou sure that a Bon is born to
me?"

"I have that news from the holy Mefres."

"Oho! How long is it since the prophets are occupied with my
household?"

"Since the time that Thou hast shown them thy favor, worthiness."

"Is that true?" asked the prince, and he fell to thinking.

He recalled the scene of the previous night in the temple of Astaroth,
and compared it with a similar spectacle in the temple of Hator.

"They called my name," said he to himself, "both here and there. But
there my cell was very narrow, and the walls were thick; here the
person calling, namely, Kama, could hide herself behind a column and
whisper. But here it was terribly dark, while in my cell it was clear."
At last he said to Tutmosis,

"When did that happen?"

"When was thy worthy son born? About ten days ago. The mother and child
are well; they seem perfectly healthy. At the birth were present Menes
himself, thy worthy mother's physician, and his worthiness Herhor."

"Well well," said the prince, and again he fell to thinking: "They
touched me here and there, with a band in both cases. Was there such a
difference? It seems to me that there was, maybe for the reason that
here I was, and there I was not, prepared to see a miracle. But here
they showed me another myself, which they did not succeed in doing
there. Very clever are the priests! I am curious to know who
represented me so well, a god or a man? Oh, the priests are very
clever, and I do not know even whom to trust more, our priests or the
Phoenicians?

"Hear me, Tutmosis," said he, aloud. "They must come hither; I must see
my son. At last no one will have the right to consider himself better
than I."

"Is the worthy Sarah to come immediately with her son?"

"Let them come at the earliest, if their health permit. Within the
palace bounds are many convenient buildings. It is necessary to choose
a place among the trees, quiet, and, when the time of heat comes, cool.
Let me