Tua kept her counsel well, nor was aught known of that midnight
interview with the young Count her general. Moreover, Napata was far
away, so far that starting at the season when it did, the embassy could
scarce return till two years had gone by, if ever it did return. Also
few believed that whoever came back, Rames would be one of them, since
it was said openly that so soon as he was beyond the frontiers of
Egypt, the soldiers had orders to kill him and take on his body as a
peace-offering.

Indeed, all praised the wit and wisdom of the Queen, who by this politic
device, had rid herself of a troublesome business with as little scandal
as possible, and avoided staining her own hands in the blood of a
foster-brother. Had she ordered his death forthwith, they said, it would
have been supposed also that she had put him away because he was of a
royal race, one who, in the future, might prove a rival, or at least
cause some rebellion.

Meanwhile greater questions filled the mouths of men. Would Pharaoh die
and leave Neter-Tua, the young and lovely, to hold his throne, and if
so, what would happen? It was a thousand years since a woman had reigned
in Egypt, and none had reigned who were not wed. Therefore it seemed
necessary that a husband should be found for her as soon as might be.

But Pharaoh did not die. On the contrary, though very slowly, he
recovered and was stronger than he had been for years, for the fit that
struck him down seemed to have cleared his blood. For some three months
he lay helpless as a child, amusing himself as a child does with little
things, and talking of children whom he had known in his youth, or when
some of these chanced to visit him as old men, asking them to play with
him with tops or balls.