flowers which she wore. Instead, she thanked
Amathel coldly but courteously, and without looking at his gifts, told
the royal Nurse, Asti, who stood behind her, to bear them away and to
place them at a distance, as the perfumes that had been poured over
them, oppressed her. Only, as though by an afterthought, she bade them
leave the ivory harp.

Thus inauspiciously enough the feast began. At it Amathel drank much of
the sweet wine of Asi or Cyprus, commanding Rames, who stood behind him,
to fill his cup again and again, though whether he did this because he
was nearest to him, or to lower him to the rank of a butler, Tua did not
know. At least, having no choice, Rames obeyed, though cup-filling was
no fitting task for a Count of Egypt and an officer of Pharaoh's guard.

When the waiting women, clad in net worked with spangles of gold,
had borne away the meats, conjurers appeared who did wonderful feats,
amongst other things causing a likeness of Queen Neter-Tua wearing her
royal robes and having a star upon her brow, to arise out of a vase.

Then, as they had arranged, they strove to do the same for the Prince
Amathel, but Asti who had more magic than all of them, watching behind
Tua's chair, put out her strength and threw a spell upon them.

Behold! instead of the form of the Prince, which these conjurers
summoned loudly and by name, there appeared out of the vase a monkey
wearing a crown and feathers that yet resembled him somewhat, which
black and hideous ape stood there for a while seeming to gibber at them,
then fell down and vanished away.

Now some of the audience laughed and some were silent, but Pharaoh, not
knowing whether this were a plot or an evil omen from the gods, frowned
and looked anxiously at his guest. As it chanced, however, the Prince,
fired with wine, was so engaged in staring at the loveliness of Tua,
that he took no note of the thing, while the Queen looked upwards and
seemed to see nothing. As for the conjurers, they fled from the hall,
fearing for their lives, and wondering what strong spirit had entered
into the vase and spoilt the trick which they had prepared.

As they went singers and dancing women hurriedly took their place, till
Tua, wearying of the stare of Amathel, waved her hand and said that she
wished to hear those two Nubian slaves whose voices were said to be so
wonderful. So they were brought forward with their harps, and having
prostrated themselves, began to play and sing