s fathers, and the
court had returned to Memphis, the king summoned Masanath, the sole
representative of the family of Har-hat, to give reason why she should
not be accused of complicity in the treason of her father.

Meneptah had taken counsel with none on this step. Perhaps he had an
inkling that it would be unpopular; perhaps he thought he was but
fulfilling the law. Hotep was at On comforting his family, who mourned
over Bettis, and most of the other ministers were scattered over Egypt
lamenting their own dead, and few expected the ungallant act of the
king.

But one day, when all the court had reassembled, Masanath came into the
great council chamber. Alone and dressed in mourning, she seemed so
little and defenseless that Meneptah stirred uncomfortably in his
throne. Slowly she approached the dais and fell on her knees before
the king. The great gathering of courtiers held its breath, wondering
and pitying.

Such was the scene upon which Hotep came all unknowing. At a glance he
understood the situation. It was too much for his well-bridled spirit.
With a cry, full of horror, indignation and compassion, he dropped his
writing-case and scroll, and, rushing forward, flung himself on his
knees beside her, one arm about her, the other extended in supplication
to the Pharaoh.

Meneptah, who, from the moment of Masanath's entrance into the council
chamber, had begun to repent his ill-advised act, was glad to be won
over. At the end of Hotep's impassioned story he came down from the
dais, and raising Masanath, kissed her and put her into the young man's
arms. Supplementing his pardon with command, he ordered his scribe to
marry the sad little orphan at once and take her away from the scene of
her sorrows till Isis restored her in spirits again.

The alacrity with which this royal command was obeyed proved how
acceptable it was to the lovers. By the next sunset they were going by
a slow and sumptuous boat down the broad bosom of the Nile toward the
sea, but they had no care whether or not they ever reached their
destination.

After some months spent on the coast, Masanath grew stronger and began
to live with much appreciation of the joys of existence. On their
return to Memphis Hotep was made fan-bearer in Har-hat's place, and for
the remaining fourteen years of Meneptah's reign practically ruled over
Egypt.

Vastly different, however, was his favoritism from the favoritism of
Har-hat. During the wise