incense, which he presented to Pharaoh on behalf of his father, the King
of Kesh and himself, saying boastfully that in his country such things
were common, and that he would have brought more of them had it not been
for their weight.

When Pharaoh had thanked him, answering gently that Egypt too was not
poor, as he hoped that he would find upon the morrow, the Prince, on
his own behalf alone, offered to the Queen other presents, among
them pectorals and necklaces without price fashioned of amethysts and
sapphires. Also, because she was known to be the first of musicians and
the sweetest-voiced lady in the land--for these were the greatest of the
gifts that Tua had from Amen--he gave to her a wonderfully worked harp
of ivory with golden strings, the frame of the harp being fashioned to
the shape of a woman, and two black female slaves laden with ornaments,
who were said to be the best singers in the Southern Land.

Now Pharaoh whispered to Tua to put on one of the necklaces, but she
would not, saying that the colour of the stones did not match her white
robe and the blue lotus flowers which she wore. Instead, she thanked
Amathel coldly but courteously, and without looking at his gifts, told
the royal Nurse, Asti, who stood behind her, to bear them away and to
place them at a distance, as the perfumes that had been poured over
them, oppressed her. Only, as though by an afterthought, she bade them
leave the ivory harp.

Thus inauspiciously enough the feast began. At it Amathel drank much of
the sweet wine of Asi or Cyprus, commanding Rames, who stood behind him,
to fill his cup again and again, though whether he did this because he
was nearest to him, or to lower him to the rank of a butler, Tua did not
know. At least, having no choice, Rames obeyed, though cup-filling was