"But why two thousand
men, whereof the cost will be very great, when a score would have
sufficed? It is an army, not an embassy, and when my royal brother of
Kesh sees it advancing, bearing with it the ill-omened gift of his only
son's body, he may take alarm."
Mermes respectfully agreed that he might do so.
"What general is in command of this embassy, as it pleases you to call
it?"
"The Count Rames, my son, is in command, your Majesty."
Now weak as he was still, Pharaoh nearly leapt from his chair:
"Rames! That young cut-throat who killed the Prince! Rames who is the
last of the old rightful dynasty of Kesh! Rames, a mere captain, in
command of two thousand of my veterans! Oh, I must still be mad! Who
gave him the command?"
"The Queen Neter-Tua, Star of Amen, she gave him the command, O Pharaoh.
Immediately after the fray in the hall she uttered her decree and caused
it to be recorded in the usual fashion."
"Send for the Queen," said Pharaoh with a groan.
So Tua was summoned, and presently swept in gloriously arrayed, and on
seeing her father sitting up and well, ran to him and embraced him and
for a long time refused to listen to his talk of matters of State.
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