Rameses did not answer immediately.  Thoughtfully he leaned his elbow on his knee and stroked his forehead with his hand.  His black brows knitted finally.

“My hands are tied, Hotep,” he began bluntly.  “I permit the sway of this knave over my father because I am constrained.  Till he begins to achieve confusion or bring about bad government I must let him alone.  There is no love between us.  We have no quarrel, but I despise him for that very spirit in him which makes him do such things as thou hast even told me.  If his offense had been against Egypt or the king or myself, I could balk him.  But this is a matter of personal interest to him, which would be open and flagrant interference—­”

Hotep broke in earnestly.

“Surely so small a matter of courtesy—­if such it may be called—­should not stand between thee and this most pressing need.”

“Aye, thou hast said—­if it were only a small matter of courtesy.  But the breach of that same small courtesy entails great disaster for me.  Thou knowest, O my Hotep, that I am betrothed to the daughter of Har-hat.”

With great effort Hotep kept a placid face.

“The Lady Masanath would abet him who would aid Kenkenes,” he said.

“Even so.  But hear me, I pray thee, Hotep.  This most rapacious miscreant would hold his favor with the king.  He knew I loved Masanath, and he held her out of my reach till I should consent to countenance his advisership to my father.  I consented—­and should I lapse, I lose Masanath.”

Hotep was on his feet by this time, his face turned away.  Rameses could not guess what a tempest raged in his heart.

“But be thou assured,” the prince continued grimly, “that only so long as Masanath is not yet mine, shall I endure him.  After that he shall fall as never knave fell or so deserved to fall before.  Aye,—­but stay, Hotep.  I have not done.  I have some small grain of hope for this unfortunate friend of ours.  The marriage hath been delayed.  I shall press my suit, and wed Masanath sooner, if she will, and Kenkenes need not decay in prison—­”

Hotep did not stay longer.  He bowed and departed without a word.

“Out upon the man, I offered all I could,” Rameses muttered, but immediately he arose and hurried to the well of the stairway.

“Hotep!” he called.  The scribe, half-way down, turned and looked up.

“Return to me in an hour.  Give me time to ponder and I may more profitably help thee,” the prince commanded.  Hotep bowed and went on.

The hour was barely long enough for the smarting soul of the scribe to soothe itself.  Deep, indeed, his love for Kenkenes that he returned at all.  Masanath’s name, spoken so familiarly, so boastingly, by the prince was fresh outrage to his already affronted heart.  It mattered not that Rameses did not know.  His talk of marriage with Masanath was exultation, nevertheless.  Once again, Hotep flung himself on his couch and wrestled with his spirit.