I and my House were not, you might be Pharaoh of Egypt?"

Rames studied the floor for a little, then looked up and asked:

"What shall I do?"

"It seems that is for you to find out," replied Tua, in her turn
studying the ceiling. "Were I in your place, I think that, if driven to
it, _I_ should know what to do. One thing, however, I should _not_ do.
Whatever may be the judgment of the divine King of Kesh upon you, and
that can easily be guessed, I should not return to Egypt with my escort,
until I was quite sure of my welcome. No, I think that I should stop in
Napata, which I am told is a rich and pleasant city, and try to put its
affairs in order, trusting that Egypt, to which it once belonged, would
in the end forgive me for so doing."

"I understand," said Rames, "that whatever happens, I alone am to
blame."

"Good, and of course there are no witnesses to this talk of ours. Have
you also been taking lessons in statecraft in your spare hours, Rames,
much as I have tried to learn something of the art of war?"

Rames made no answer, only these two strange conspirators looked at each
other and smiled.

"Your Majesty is weary. I must leave your Majesty," he said presently.

"You must be wearier than I am, Rames, with that wound, which I think
has not been dressed, although it is true that we have both fought