“Life!  Blood!  Strength!” echoed everyone in the great hall, falling to their knees and bending their foreheads to the ground.  Even the Prince and the aged Bakenkhonsu prostrated themselves thus as though before the presence of a god.  And, indeed, Pharaoh Meneptah, passing through the patch of sunlight at the head of the hall, wearing the double crown upon his head and arrayed in royal robes and ornaments, looked like a god, no less, as the multitude of the people of Egypt held him to be.  He was an old man with the face of one worn by years and care, but from his person majesty seemed to flow.

With him, walking a step or two behind, went Nehesi his Vizier, a shrivelled, parchment-faced officer whose cunning eyes rolled about the place, and Roy the High-priest, and Hora the Chamberlain of the Table, and Meranu the Washer of the King’s Hands, and Yuy the private scribe, and many others whom Bakenkhonsu named to me as they appeared.  Then there were fan-bearers and a gorgeous band of lords who were called King’s Companions and Head Butlers and I know not who besides, and after these guards with spears and helms that shone like god, and black swordsmen from the southern land of Kesh.

But one woman accompanied his Majesty, walking alone immediately behind him in front of the Vizier and the High-priest.  She was the Royal Daughter, the Princess Userti, who looked, I thought, prouder and more splendid than any there, though somewhat pale and anxious.

Pharaoh came to the steps of the throne.  The Vizier and the High-priest advanced to help him up the steps, for he was feeble with age.  He waved them aside, and beckoning to his daughter, rested his hand upon her shoulder and by her aid mounted the throne.  I thought that there was meaning in this; it was as though he would show to all the assembly that this princess was the prop of Egypt.

For a little while he stood still and Userti sat herself down on the topmost step, resting her chin upon her jewelled hand.  There he stood searching the place with his eyes.  He lifted his sceptre and all rose, hundreds and hundreds of them throughout the hall, their garments rustling as they rose like leaves in a sudden wind.  He seated himself and once more from every throat went up the regal salutation that was the king’s alone, of—­

“Life!  Blood!  Strength!  Pharaoh!  Pharaoh!  Pharaoh!”

In the silence that followed I heard him say, to the Princess, I think: 

“Amenmeses I see, and others of our kin, but where is my son Seti, the Prince of Egypt?”

“Watching us no doubt from some vestibule.  My brother loves not ceremonials,” answered Userti.

Then, with a little sigh, Seti stepped forward, followed by Bakenkhonsu and myself, and at a distance by other members of his household.  As he marched up the long hall all drew to this side or that, saluting him with low bows.  Arriving in front of the throne he bent till his knee touched the ground, saying: