much to do with
the matter. Had it not been for them Seti and not Amenmeses would be
crowned to-morrow. Also the tale of the marvel which the beautiful
Hebrew woman wrought in the temple yonder has got abroad and is taken as
an omen. Did I tell you that six days gone a fine new statue of the god
was consecrated there and on the following morning was found lying on
its side, or rather with its head resting on the breast of Mut?"

"If so, Merapi is blameless, because she has gone away from this city."

"Of course she has gone away, for has not Seti gone also? But I think
she left something behind her. However that may be, even our new divine
lord is afraid. He dreams ill, Ana," he added, dropping his voice, "so
ill that he has called in Ki, the Kherheb,[*] to interpret his visions."

[*] "Kherheb" was the title of the chief official magician
in ancient Egypt.

"And what said Ki?"

"Ki could say nothing or, rather, that the only answer vouchsafed to
him and his company, when they made inquiry of their Kas, was that
this god's reign would be very short and that it and his life would end
together."

"Which perhaps did not please the god Amenmeses, Bakenkhonsu?"

"Which did not please the god at all. He threatened Ki. It is a foolish
thing to threaten a great magician, Ana, as the Kherheb Ki, himself
indeed told him, looking him in the eyes. Then he prayed his pardon and
asked who would succeed him on the throne, but Ki said he did not know,
as a Kherheb who had been threatened could never remember anything,
which indeed he never can--except to pay back the threatener."

"And did he know, Bakenkhonsu?"

By way of answer the old Councillor crumbled some bread fine upon the
table, then with his finger traced among the crumbs the rough likeness
of a jackal-headed god and of two feathers, after which with a swift
movement he swept the crumbs onto the floor.

"Seti!" I whispered, reading the hieroglyphs of the Prince's name, and
he nodded and laughed in his great fashion.

"Men come to their own sometimes, Ana, especially if they do not
seek their own," he said. "But if so, much must happen first that is
terrible. The new Pharaoh is not the only man who dreams, Ana. Of late
years my sleep has been light and sometimes I dream, though I have no
magic like to that of Ki."

"What did you dream?"

"I dreamed of a great multitude marching like locusts over Egypt. Before
them went a column of fire in which were