away to learn his fate. Then
appeared sheiks of the desert tribes, and captains from fortresses in
Syria, and traders who had been harmed by enemies, and even peasants who
had suffered violence from officers, each to make his prayer. Of all of
these supplications the scribes took notes, while to some the Vizier and
councillors made answer. But as yet Pharaoh said nothing. There he sat
silent on his splendid throne of ivory and gold, like a god of stone
above the altar, staring down the long hall and through the open doors
as though he would read the secrets of the skies beyond.

"I told you that courts were wearisome, friend Ana," whispered the
Prince to me without turning his head. "Do you not already begin to wish
that you were back writing tales at Memphis?"

Before I could answer some movement in the throng at the end of the
hall drew the eyes of the Prince and of all of us. I looked, and saw
advancing towards the throne a tall, bearded man already old, although
his black hair was but grizzled with grey. He was arrayed in a white
linen robe, over which hung a woollen cloak such as shepherds wear, and
he carried in his hand a long thornwood staff. His face was splendid and
very handsome, and his black eyes flashed like fire. He walked forward
slowly, looking neither to the left nor the right, and the throng made
way for him as though he were a prince. Indeed, I thought that they
showed more fear of him than of any prince, since they shrank from him
as he came. Nor was he alone, for after him walked another man who was
very like to him, but as I judged, still older, for his beard, which
hung down to his middle, was snow-white as was the hair on his head. He
also was dressed in a sheepskin cloak and carried a staff in his hand.
Now a whisper rose among the people and the whisper said:

"The prophets of the men of Israel! The prophets of the men of Israel!"

The two stood before the throne and looked at Pharaoh, making no
obeisance. Pharaoh looked at them and was silent. For a long space they
stood thus in the midst of a great quiet, but Pharaoh would not speak,
and none of his officers seemed to dare to open their mouths. At length
the first of the prophets spoke in a clear, cold voice as some conqueror
might do.

"You know me, Pharaoh, and my errand."

"I know you," answered Pharaoh slowly, "as well I may, seeing that we
played together when we were little. You are that Hebrew whom my sister,
she who sleeps in O