appeared on the
horizon, the Sphinx would rise up and go to meet it.

What was that to be, and when would it come? This was a mystery the
significance of which was depicted expressly on the face of that
creature which had existed for ages. But it would of necessity take
place on a sudden, since the Sphinx had not closed its eyes for one
instant during millenniums, and was gazing, gazing, always.

Meanwhile Pentuer found a window through which came from the
underground temple pensive hymns of the priestly chorus:

Chorus I. "Rise, as radiant as Isis, rise as Sotis rises on the
firmament in the morning at the beginning of the established year."

Chorus II. "The god Amon-Ra was on my right and on my left. He himself
gave into my hands dominion over all the world, thus causing the
downfall of my enemies."

Chorus I. "Thou wert still young, Thou wert wearing braided hair, but
in Egypt naught was done save at thy command no corner-stone was laid
for an edifice unless Thou wert present."

Chorus II. "I came to Thee, ruler of the gods, great god, lord of the
sun. Turn promises that the sun will appear, and that I shall be like
him, and the Nile; that I shall reach the throne of Osiris, and shall
possess it forever."

Chorus I. "Thou hast returned in peace, respected by the gods, O ruler
of both worlds, Ra-Mer-Amen-Ramses. I assure to thee unbroken rule;
kings will come to thee to pay tribute."

Chorus II. "O thou, Thou Osiris-Ramses! ever-living son of heaven, born
of the goddess Nut, may thy mother surround thee with the mystery of
heaven, and permit that Thou become a god, O thou, O Osiris-Ramses."
[Tomb inscriptions]

"So then the holy father is dead," said Pentuer to himself.

He left the window and approached the place where the heir was sitting,
sunk in imaginings.

The priest knelt before him, fell on his face, and exclaimed:

"Be greeted, O pharaoh, ruler of the world!"

"What dost Thou say?" cried the prince, springing up.

"May the One, the All-Powerful, pour down on thee wisdom and strength,
and happiness on thy people."

"Rise, Pentuer! Then I then I."

Suddenly he took the arm of the priest and turned toward the Sphinx.

"Look at it," said he.

But neither in the face nor in the posture of the colossus was there
any change. One pharaoh had stepped over the threshold of eternity;
another rose up like the sun, but the stone face of the god or the
monster was the same precisely. On its lips was