“These are spoils that my grandsire, the great Rameses, took in his youth from a prince of the Khitah, whom he smote with his own hands in Syria in that battle whereof your grandfather made the poem.  Wear the shirt, which no spear will pierce, beneath your robe and gird the sword about you when you go down yonder among the Israelites, whom I do not trust.  I have given a like coat to the Prince.  Let it be your duty to see that it is upon his sacred person day and night.  Let it be your duty also, if need arises, with this sword to defend him to the death.  Farewell.”

“May all the gods reject me from the Fields of the Blessed if I fail in this trust,” I answered, and departed wondering, to seek sleep which, as it chanced, I was not to find for a while.

For as I went down the corridor, led by one of the ladies of the household, whom should I find waiting at the end of it but old Pambasa to inform me with many bows that the Prince needed my presence.  I asked how that could be seeing he had dismissed me for the night.  He replied that he did not know, but he was commanded to conduct me to the private chamber, the same room in which I had first seen his Highness.  Thither I went and found him warming himself at the fire, for the night was cold.  Looking up he bade Pambasa admit those who were waiting, then noting the shirt of mail and the sword I carried in my hand, said: 

“You have been with the Princess, have you not, and she must have had much to say to you for your talk was long?  Well, I think I can guess its purport who from a child have known her mind.  She told you to watch me well, body and heart and all that comes from the heart—­oh! and much else.  Also she gave you that Syrian gear to wear among the Hebrews as she has given the like to me, being of a careful mind which foresees everything.  Now, hearken, Ana; I grieve to keep you from your rest, who must be weary both with talk and travel.  But old Bakenkhonsu, whom you know, waits without, and with him Ki the great magician, whom I think you have not seen.  He is a man of wonderful lore and in some ways not altogether human.  At least he does strange feats of magic, and at times both the past and the future seem to be open to his sight, though as we know neither the one nor the other, who can tell whether he reads them truly.  Doubtless he has, or thinks he has, some message to me from the heavens, which I thought you might wish to hear.”

“I wish it much, Prince, if I am worthy, and you will protect me from the anger of this magician whom I fear.”

“Anger sometimes turns to trust, Ana.  Did you not find it so just now in the case of her Highness, as I told you might very well happen?  Hush!  They come.  Be seated and prepare your tablets to make record of what they say.”