between which were set statues of Pharaohs who had been. Save at
the throne end of the hall, where the light flowed down through
clerestories, the vast chamber was dim almost to darkness; at least so
it seemed to me entering there out of the brilliant sunshine. Through
this gloom many folk moved like shadows; captains, nobles, and state
officers who had been summoned to the Court, and among them white-robed
and shaven priests. Also there were others of whom I took no count, such
as Arab headmen from the desert, traders with jewels and other wares to
sell, farmers and even peasants with petitions to present, lawyers and
their clients, and I know not who besides, through which of all these
none were suffered to advance beyond a certain mark where the light
began to fall. Speaking in whispers all of these folk flitted to and fro
like bats in a tomb.

We waited between two Hathor-headed pillars in one of the vestibules of
the hall, the Prince Seti, who was clad in purple-broidered garments and
wore upon his brow a fillet of gold from which rose the uræus or hooded
snake, also of gold, that royal ones alone might wear, leaning against
the base of a statue, while the rest of us stood silent behind him.
For a time he was silent also, as a man might be whose thoughts were
otherwhere. At length he turned and said to me:

"This is weary work. Would I had asked you to bring that new tale of
yours, Scribe Ana, that we might have read it together."

"Shall I tell you the plot of it, Prince?"

"Yes. I mean, not now, lest I should forget my manners listening to you.
Look," and he pointed to a dark-browed, fierce-eyed man of middle age
who passed up the hall as though he did not see us, "there goes my