"And thirdly--out with the thirdly for, doubtless, it is the real
reason."

"And thirdly, O Prince--well, the word sounds strangely upon a man's
lips--but thirdly because I love you. From the moment that my eyes fell
upon your face I loved you as I never loved any other man--not even my
father. I know not why. Certainly it is not because you are a prince."

When he heard these words Seti sat brooding and so silent that, fearing
lest I, a humble scribe, had been too bold, I added hastily:

"Let your Highness pardon his servant for his presumptuous words. It was
his servant's heart that spoke and not his lips."

He lifted his hand and I stopped.

"Ana, my twin in Ra," he said, "do you know that I never had a friend?"

"A prince who has no friend!"

"Never, none. Now I begin to think that I have found one. The thought is
strange and warms me. Do you know also that when my eyes fell upon your
face I loved you also, the gods know why. It was as though I had found
one who was dear to me thousands of years ago but whom I had lost and
forgotten. Perhaps this is but foolishness, or perhaps here we have the
shadow of something great and beautiful which dwells elsewhere, in the
place we call the Kingdom of Osiris, beyond the grave, Ana."

"Such thoughts have come to me at times, Prince. I mean that all we see