“Hail to your divine Majesty!” answered Abi in his deep voice.  “Health and strength be with you, Holder of the Scourge of Osiris, Wearer of the Feathers of Amen, Mortal crowned with the glory of Ra.”

“I thank you, Prince,” answered Pharaoh gently, “and that health and strength I need, who fear that I shall only find them when I have yielded up the Scourge of Osiris whereof you speak to him who lent it me.  But enough of myself.  Let us to business, afterwards we will talk of such matters together.  Why have you left your government at Memphis without leave asked, to visit me here in my City of the Gates?”

“Be not wrath with me,” answered Abi humbly.  “A while ago, in obedience to your divine command, I attacked the barbarians who threatened your dominions in the desert.  Like Menthu, god of war, I fell upon them.  I took them by surprise, I smote them, thousands of them bit the dust before me.  Two of their kings I captured with their women—­they wait without, to be slain by your Majesty.  I bring with me the heads of a hundred of their captains and the hands of five hundred of their soldiers, in earnest of the truth of my word.  Let them be spread out before you.  I report to your divine Majesty that those barbarians are no more, that for a generation, at least, I have made the land safe to your uttermost dominions in the north.  Suffer that the heads and the hands be brought in and counted out before your Majesty, that the smell of them may rise like incense to your divine nostrils.”

“No, no,” said Pharaoh, “my officers shall count them without, for I love not such sights of death, and I take your word for the number.  What payment do you ask for this service, my brother, for with great gifts would I reward you, who have done so well for me and Egypt?”

Before he answered Abi looked at the beautiful queen, Ahura, who sat at Pharaoh’s side, and at the other royal consorts and women.

“Your Majesty,” he said, “I see here many wives and ladies, but royal children I do not see.  Grant—­for doubtless they are in their own chambers—­grant, O Pharaoh, that they may be led hither that my eyes may feed upon their loveliness, and that I may tell of them, each of them, to their cousins who await me at Memphis.”

At these words a flush as of shame spread itself over the lovely face of Ahura, the royal wife, the Lady of the Two Lands; while the women turned their heads away whispering to each other bitterly, for the insult hurt them.  Only Pharaoh set his pale face and answered with dignity.

“Prince Abi, to affront those whom the gods have smitten, be they kings or peasants, is an unworthy deed which the gods will not forget.  You know well that I have no children.  Why then do you ask me to show you their loveliness?”

“I had heard rumours, O Pharaoh,” answered the Prince, “no more.  Indeed, I did not believe them, for where there are so many wives I was certain that there would be some mothers.  Therefore I asked to be sure before I proffered a petition which now I will make to you not for my own sake but for Egypt’s and yours, O Pharaoh.  Have I your leave to speak here in public?”