t it was no treachery,
but a mischance. The divine prince who is dead, as all of you saw,
grew drunken after the fashion of his people, and in his drunkenness he
struck a high-born man, a Count of Egypt and an officer of Pharaoh, who
to do him greater honour was set to wait upon him, calling him by vile
names, and drew his sword upon him to kill him. Am I right? Did you see
and hear these things?"

"Aye," answered the Council and the audience.

"Then," went on Tua, "this officer, forgetting all save his outraged
honour, dared to fight for his life even against the Prince of Kesh, and
being the better man, slew him. Afterwards the servants of the Prince of
Kesh attacked him and Pharaoh's guard, and were conquered and the most
of them killed, since none here had arms wherewith to part them. Have I
spoken truth?"

"Yea, O Queen," they answered again by their spokesman. "Rames and the
royal guard have little blame in the matter," and from the rest of them
rose a murmur of assent.

"Now," went on Tua with gathering confidence, for she felt that all saw
with her eyes, "to add to our woes Pharaoh, my father, has been smitten
by the gods. He sleeps; he cannot speak; I know not whether he will live
or die, and therefore it would seem that I, the duly-crowned Queen of
Egypt, must act for him as was provided in such a case, since the matter
is very urgent and may not be delayed. Is it your will," she added,
addressing the Council, "that I should so act as the gods may show me
how to do?"

"It is right and fitting," answered the Vizier, the King's companion, on
behalf of all of them.

"Then, priests, lords and people," continued the Queen, "what course
shall we take in this sore strait? Speaking with the voice of all of
you and on your behalf, I can command that the Count Rames and all those
other chosen men whom Pharaoh loves, who fought with him, shall be slain
forthwith. This, indeed," she added slowly, "I should wish to do, since
although Rames had suffered intolerable insult such as no high-born man
can be asked to bear even from a prince, and he and all of them were
but fighting to save their lives and to show the Nubians that we are not
cowards here in Egypt, without doubt they have conquered and slain the
heir of Kesh and his black giants who were our guests, and for this deed
their lives are forfeit."

She paused watching, while although here and there a voice answered
"Yes" or "They must die," from the rest arose