“Miracles are happening,” he continued, “and in a dream I saw a gentle and pious man on the throne of the earthly vicar of Ra.  He listened to our counsel, he gave us our due, and led back to our fields our serfs that had been sent to the war; he overthrew the altars of the strange gods, and drove the unclean stranger out from this holy land.”

“The Regent Ani!” exclaimed Septah.

An eager movement stirred the assembly, but Ameni went on: 

“Perhaps it was not unlike him, but he certainly was the One; he had the features of the true and legitimate descendants of Ra, to whom Rui was faithful, in whose breast the heart of the sacred ram found a refuge.  To-morrow this pledge of the divine grace shall be shown to the people, and another mercy will also be announced to them.  Hear and praise the dispensations of the Most High!  An hour ago I received the news that a new Apis, with all the sacred marks upon him, has been found in the herds of Ani at Hermonthis.”

Fresh excitement was shown by the listening conclave.  Ameni let their astonishment express itself freely, but at last he exclaimed: 

“And now to settle the last question.  The priest Pentaur, who is now present, has been appointed speaker at the festival to-morrow.  He has erred greatly, yet I think we need not judge him till after the holy day, and, in consideration of his former innocence, need not deprive him of the honorable office.  Do you share my wishes?  Is there no dissentient voice?  Then come forward, you, the youngest of us all, who are so highly trusted by this holy assembly.”

Pentaur rose and placed himself opposite to Ameni, in order to give, as he was required to do, a broad outline of the speech he proposed to deliver next day to the nobles and the people.

The whole assembly, even his opponents, listened to him with approbation.  Ameni, too, praised him, but added: 

“I miss only one thing on which you must dwell at greater length, and treat with warmer feeling—­I mean the miracle which has stirred our souls to-day.  We must show that the Gods brought the sacred heart—­”

“Allow me,” said Pentaur, interrupting the high-priest, and looking earnestly into those eyes which long since he had sung of—­“Allow me to entreat you not to select me to declare this new marvel to the people.”

Astonishment was stamped on the face of every member of the assembly.  Each looked at his neighbor, then at Pentaur, and at last enquiringly at Ameni.  The superior knew Pentaur, and saw that no mere whimsical fancy, but some serious motive had given rise to this refusal.  Horror, almost aversion, had rung in his tone as he said the words ‘new marvel.’  He doubted the genuineness of this divine manifestation!

Ameni gazed long and enquiringly into Pentaur’s eyes, and then said:  “You are right, my friend.  Before judgment has been passed on you, before you are reinstated in your old position, your lips are not worthy to announce this divine wonder to the multitude.  Look into your own soul, and teach the devout a horror of sin, and show them the way, which you must now tread, of purification of the heart.  I myself will announce the miracle.”