"It seems that the Lady of the Footstool, Merytra, sang him to sleep, as
was her custom," answered the physician, "and left him about two hours
ago, so say the guard. When I came in to see how his Majesty rested but
now, I found him thus."

Now Tua lifted up her head and spoke, saying:

"My divine Father is helpless, and therefore again I rule alone in
Egypt. Hear me and obey. Let the Prince Abi be brought from his
prison to the inner hall, for I would question him at once. Let the
waiting-woman, Merytra, be brought also under guard with drawn swords."

The officer of the watch bowed and departed to do the bidding of her
Majesty, while others went to light the hall.

Soon he returned to an outer chamber whither Tua had withdrawn herself
while the physicians examined Pharaoh.

"O Queen," he said, with a frightened face, "be not wrath, but
the Prince Abi has gone. He has escaped out of his prison, and the
waiting-woman, Merytra, is gone also."

"How came this about?" asked Tua in a cold voice.

"O Queen, the small gate was open, for people passed in and out of it
continually, making preparation for to-morrow's march, it seems that
about an hour ago the lady Merytra came to the gate and showed Pharaoh's
signet to the officer, saying that she was on Pharaoh's business. With
her went a fat man dressed in the robe of a master of camels that in the