“Too deep for me,” muttered Amenmeses.  “Nevertheless, say to my royal cousin that I thank him for his gifts, especially as some of them were worn, when he was heir to Egypt, by my father Khaemuas, who I would had left me his wisdom as well as his blood.  Say to him also that while he refrains from working me harm upon the throne, as I know he has done up to the present, he may be sure that I will work him none in the station which he has chosen.”

Also I saw the Princess Userti who questioned me closely concerning her lord.  I told her everything, keeping naught back.  She listened and asked: 

“What of that Hebrew woman, Moon of Israel?  Without doubt she fills my place.”

“Not so, Princess,” I answered.  “The Prince lives alone.  Neither she nor any other woman fills your place.  She is a friend to him, no more.”

“A friend!  Well, at least we know the end of such friendships.  Oh! surely the Prince must be stricken with madness from the gods!”

“It may be so, your Highness, but I think that if the gods smote more men with such madness, the world would be better than it is.”

“The world is the world, and the business of those who are born to greatness is to rule it as it is, not to hide away amongst books and flowers, and to talk folly with a beautiful outland woman, and a scribe however learned,” she answered bitterly, adding, “Oh! if the Prince is not mad, certainly he drives others to madness, and me, his spouse, among them.  That throne is his, his; yet he suffers a cross-grained dolt to take his place, and sends him gifts and blessings.”

“I think your Highness should wait till the end of the story before you judge of it.”

She looked at me sharply, and asked: 

“Why do you say that?  Is the Prince no fool after all?  Do he and you, who both seem to be so simple, perchance play a great and hidden game, as I have known men feign folly in order to do with safety?  Or has that witch of an Israelite some secret knowledge in which she instructs you, such as a woman who can shatter the statue of Amon to fine dust might well possess?  You make believe not to know, which means that you will not answer.  Oh!  Scribe Ana, if only it were safe, I think I could find a way to wring the truth out of you, although you do pretend to be but a babe for innocence.”

“It pleases your Highness to threaten and without cause.”

“No,” she answered, changing her voice and manner, “I do not threaten; it is only the madness that I have caught from Seti.  Would you not be mad if you knew that another woman was to be crowned to-morrow in your place, because—­because——­” and she began to weep, which frightened me more than all her rough words.

Presently she dried her tears, and said: 

“Say to my lord that I rejoice to hear that he is well and send him greetings, but that never of my own wish will I look upon his living face again unless indeed he takes another counsel, and sets himself to win that which is his own.  Say to him that though he has so little care for me, and pays no heed to my desires, still I watch over his welfare and his safety, as best I may.”