Thebes, Merytra, Lady of the Footstool, now a woman of middle age, but
still beautiful, of whom, although Tua disliked her, Pharaoh was fond
because she was clever and witty of speech and amused him. For this
reason, in spite of her history, he had advanced her to wealth and
honour, and kept her about his person as a companion of his lighter
hours. Something in this woman's manner attracted Tua's attention, for
continually she looked at the astrologer, Kaku, who suddenly awoke to
her presence and smiled as though he recognised an old friend. Then,
when it was the turn of another to take her place behind Pharaoh,
Merytra drew alongside of Kaku, and under shelter of her broad fan,
spoke to him quickly, as though she were making some arrangement with
him, and he nodded in assent, after which they separated again.

The feast wore on its weary course till, at length, the doors opened and
slaves appeared bearing the mummy of a dead man, which they set upon its
feet in the centre of the hall, whereon a toast-master cried:

"Drink and be merry, all ye great ones of the earth, who know not how
soon ye shall come to this last lowly state."

Now this bringing in of the mummy was a very ancient rite, but one that
had fallen into general disuse, so that as it chanced Tua, who had never
seen it practised before, looked on it with curiosity not unmingled with
disgust.

"Why is a dead king dragged from his sepulchre back into the world of
life, my Uncle?" she asked, pointing to the royal emblems with which the
corpse was clothed.

"It is no king, your Majesty," answered Abi, "but only the bones of some