The scribes in attendance wrote down the words and, at a sign from the Prince Seti, I also wrote them down, setting the papyrus I had with me on my knee.  When this was finished Pharaoh went on.

“Therefore, O Prince Seti, you are the heir of Egypt and perhaps, as those Hebrew prophets said, will ere long be called upon to sit in my place on its throne.”

“May the King live for ever!” exclaimed Seti, “for well he knows that I do not seek his crown and dignities.”

“I do know it well, my son; so well that I wish you thought more of that crown and those dignities which, if the gods will, must come to you.  If they will it not, next in the order of succession stands your cousin, the Count Amenmeses, who is also of royal blood both on his father’s and his mother’s side, and after him I know not who, unless it be my daughter and your half-sister, the royal Princess Userti, Lady of Egypt.”

Now Userti spoke, very earnestly, saying: 

“O Pharaoh, surely my right in the succession, according to ancient precedent, precedes that of my cousin, the Count Amenmeses.”

Amenmeses was about to answer, but Pharaoh lifted his hand and he was silent.

“It is matter for those learned in such lore to discuss,” Meneptah replied in a somewhat hesitating voice.  “I pray the gods that it may never be needful that this high question should be considered in the Council.  Nevertheless, let the words of the royal Princess be written down.  Now, Prince Seti,” he went on when this had been done, “you are still unmarried, and if you have children they are not royal.”

“I have none, O Pharaoh,” said Seti.

“Is it so?” answered Meneptah indifferently.  “The Count Amenmeses has children I know, for I have seen them, but by his wife Unuri, who also is of the royal line, he has none.”

Here I heard Amenmeses mutter, “Being my aunt that is not strange,” a saying at which Seti smiled.

“My daughter, the Princess, is also unmarried.  So it seems that the fountain of the royal blood is running dry——­”

“Now it is coming,” whispered Seti below his breath so that only I could hear.

“Therefore,” continued Pharaoh, “as you know, Prince Seti, for the royal Princess of Egypt by my command went to speak to you of this matter last night, I make a decree——­”

“Pardon, O Pharaoh,” interrupted the Prince, “my sister spoke to me of no decree last night, save that I should attend at the court here to-day.”

“Because I could not, Seti, seeing that another was present with you whom you refused to dismiss,” and she let her eyes rest on me.

“It matters not,” said Pharaoh, “since now I will utter it with my own lips which perhaps is better.  It is my will, Prince, that you forthwith wed the royal Princess Userti, that children of the true blood of the Ramessides may be born.  Hear and obey.”

Now Userti shifted her eyes from me to Seti, watching him very closely.  Seated at his side upon the ground with my writing roll spread across my knee, I, too, watched him closely, and noted that his lips turned white and his face grew fixed and strange.