But she made no answer, and when I looked up after a little moment she was in his arms and her lips were upon his lips.

Thus did Prince Seti of England and Merapi, Moon of Israel, come together at Memphis in Egypt.

CHAPTER XIII

THE RED NILE

On the morrow of this night I found the Prince alone for a little while, and put him in mind of certain ancient manuscripts that he wished to read, which could only be consulted at Thebes where I might copy them; also of others that were said to be for sale there.  He answered that they could wait, but I replied that the latter might find some other purchaser if I did not go at once.

“You are over fond of long journeys upon my business, Ana,” he said.  Then he considered me curiously for a while, and since he could read my mind, as indeed I could his, saw that I knew all, and added in a gentle voice: 

“You should have done as I told you, and spoken first.  If so, who knows——­”

“You do, Prince,” I answered, “you and another.”

“Go, and the gods be with you, friend, but stay not too long copying those rolls, which any scribe can do.  I think there is trouble at hand in Egypt, and I shall need you at my side.  Another who holds you dear will need you also.”

“I thank my lord and that other,” I said, bowing, and went.

Moreover, while I was making some humble provision for my journey, I found that this was needless, since a slave came to tell me that the Prince’s barge was waiting to sail with the wind.  So in that barge I travelled to Thebes like a great noble, or a royal mummy being borne to burial.  Only instead of wailing priests, until I sent them back to Memphis, musicians sat upon the prow, and when I willed, dancing girls came to amuse my leisure and, veiled in golden nets, to serve at my table.

So I journeyed as though I were the Prince himself, and as one who was known to have his ear was made much of by the governors of the Nomes, the chief men of the towns, and the high priests of the temples at every city where we moored.  For, as I have said, although Amenmeses sat upon the throne, Seti still ruled in the hearts of the folk of Egypt.  Moreover, as I sailed further up the Nile to districts where little was known of the Israelites, and the troubles they were bringing on the land, I found this to be so more and more.  Why is it, the Great Ones would whisper in my ear, that his Highness the Prince Seti does not hold his father’s place?  Then I would tell them of the Hebrews, and they would laugh and say: 

“Let the Prince unfurl his royal banner here, and we will show him what we think of the question of these Israelitish slaves.  May not the Heir of Egypt form his own judgment on such a matter as to whether they should abide there in the north, or go away into that wilderness which they desire?”

To all of which, and much like it, I would only answer that their words should be reported.  More I did not, and indeed did not dare to say, since everywhere I found that I was being followed and watched by the spies of Pharaoh.