them, will they not say in the Southern Country and in all the nations
around, that first they had been told to murder the Prince of Kesh and
his escort, and then were themselves executed to cover up our crime?
Will it not be believed that there is blood upon the hands of Pharaoh
and of Egypt, the blood of a royal guest who, it is well known, was
welcomed here with love and joy, that he might--oh! forgive me, I am but
a maiden, I cannot say it. Nay, pity me not and answer not till I have
set out all the case as best I may, which I fear me is but ill. It is
certain that this will be said--aye, and believed, and we of Egypt all
called traitors, and that these men, who after all, however evil has
been their deed, are brave and upright, will be written in all the books
of all the lands as common murderers, and go down to Osiris with that
ill name branded on their brows. Yes, and their shame will cling to the
pure hands of Pharaoh and his councillors."

Now at this picture the people murmured, and some of the noble women
there began to weep outright.

"But," proceeded Tua with her pleading voice, "how if we were to take
another course? How if we commanded this Count Rames and his companions
to journey, with an escort such as befits the Majesty of Pharaoh, to the
far city of Napata, and there to lay before the great king of that land
by writings and the mouths of witnesses, all the sad story of the death
of his only son? How if we sent letters to this Majesty of Kesh, saying,
'Thou hast heard our tale, thou knowest all our woe. Now judge. If thou
art noble-hearted and it pleases thee to acquit these men, acquit them
and we will praise thee. But if thou art wroth and stern and it pleases
thee to condemn these men, condemn them, and send them back to us for
punishment, that punishment which thou dost decree.' Is that plan good,
my people? Can his Majesty of Kesh complain if he is made judge in his