"Bring him to the steps of the temple of Amon," said Seti to the Nubians
who held him fast. "Follow me, friend Ana, if you have the strength.
Nay, lean upon my shoulder."

So resting upon the shoulder of the Prince, for I was bruised and
breathless, I walked with him a hundred paces or more to the steps of
the great temple where we climbed to the platform at the head of the
stairs. After us came the prisoner, and after him all the multitude,
a very great number who stood upon the steps and on the flat ground
beyond. The Prince, who was very white and quiet, sat himself down
upon the low granite base of a tall obelisk which stood in front of the
temple pylon, and said:

"As Governor of Tanis, the City of Rameses, with power of life and death
at all hours and in all places, I declare my Court open."

"The Royal Court is open!" cried the multitude in the accustomed form.

"This is the case," said the Prince. "Yonder man who is named Khuaka, by
his dress a captain of Pharaoh's army, is charged with the murder of
a certain Hebrew, and with the attempted murder of Ana the scribe. Let
witnesses be called. Bring the body of the dead man and lay it here
before me. Bring the woman who strove to protect him, that she may
speak."

The body was brought and laid upon the platform, its wide eyes staring
up at the moon. Then soldiers who had gathered thrust forward the
weeping girl.

"Cease from tears," said Seti, "and swear by Kephera the creator, and by