The poet spoke these words with absorbed fervor, and Nebsecht heard them as if they were speech from some distant and beautiful world.  He went affectionately up to his friend, and eagerly held out his hand.  Pentaur grasped it, pressed it warmly, and said: 

“That was a fearful moment!  You do not know what Ameni has been to me, and now, now!”

He hardly had ceased speaking when steps were heard approaching the physician’s room, and a young priest requested the friends to appear at once in the meeting-room of the Initiated.  In a few moments they both entered the great hall, which was brilliantly lighted.

Not one of the chiefs of the House of Seti was absent.

Ameni sat on a raised seat at a long table; on his right hand was old Gagabu, on his left the third Prophet of the temple.  The principals of the different orders of priests had also found places at the table, and among them the chief of the haruspices, while the rest of the priests, all in snow-white linen robes, sat, with much dignity, in a large semicircle, two rows deep.  In the midst stood a statue of the Goddess of truth and justice.

Behind Ameni’s throne was the many-colored image of the ibis-headed Toth, who presided over the measure and method of things, who counselled the Gods as well as men, and presided over learning and the arts.  In a niche at the farther end of the hall were painted the divine Triad of Thebes, with Rameses I. and his son Seti, who approached them with offerings.  The priests were placed with strict regard to their rank, and the order of initiation.  Pentaur’s was the lowest place of all.

No discussion of any importance had as yet taken place, for Ameni was making enquiries, receiving information, and giving orders with reference to the next day’s festival.  All seemed to be well arranged, and promised a magnificent solemnity; although the scribes complained of the scarce influx of beasts from the peasants, who were so heavily taxed for the war, and although that feature would be wanting in the procession which was wont to give it the greatest splendor—­the presence of the king and the royal family.

This circumstance aroused the disapprobation of some of the priests, who were of opinion that it would be hazardous to exclude the two children of Rameses, who remained in Thebes, from any share in the solemnities of the feast.

Ameni then rose.

“We have sent the boy Rameri,” he said, “away from this house.  Bent-Anat must be purged of her uncleanness, and if the weak superior of the temple of Anion absolves her, she may pass for purified over there, where they live for this world only, but not here, where it is our duty to prepare the soul for death.  The Regent, a descendant of the great deposed race of kings, will appear in the procession with all the splendor of his rank.  I see you are surprised, my friends.  Only he!  Aye!  Great things are stirring, and it may happen that soon the mild sun of peace may rise upon our war-ridden people.”