Asti, his mother,
waited also, but she was clad in a plain black robe, and over her
head was a black veil. Presently that captain who had shown them their
lodging, came to them and asked if they were ready to be led before the
Viceroy of Napata.
"Viceroy?" answered Asti, "I thought he was a King."
"So he is, my good Woman," replied the captain, "but it his fancy to
call himself the Viceroy of Neter-Tua, Star of Amen, wife of Abi the
Usurper who rules in Egypt. A mad fancy when he might be a Pharaoh on
his own account, but so it is."
"Well, Sir," said Asti, "we merchants have nothing to do with these high
matters; lead us to this Pharaoh, or General, or Viceroy, with whom we
hope to transact business."
So the captain conducted them to a side gate of the palace, and thence
through various passages and halls, in some of which Tua recognised
officers of her own whom she had commanded to accompany Rames, to an
apartment of no great size, where he bade them be seated. Presently a
door opened, and through it came Rames, plainly dressed in the uniform
of an Egyptian general, on which they saw he wore no serpent crest
or other of the outward signs of royalty.
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