Prince of Egypt?"

"Watching us no doubt from some vestibule. My brother loves not
ceremonials," answered Userti.

Then, with a little sigh, Seti stepped forward, followed by Bakenkhonsu
and myself, and at a distance by other members of his household. As he
marched up the long hall all drew to this side or that, saluting him
with low bows. Arriving in front of the throne he bent till his knee
touched the ground, saying:

"I give greeting, O King and Father."

"I give greeting, O Prince and Son. Be seated," answered Meneptah.

Seti seated himself in a chair that had been made ready for him at the
foot of the throne, and on its right, and in another chair to the left,
but set farther from the steps, Amenmeses seated himself also. At a
motion from the Prince I took my stand behind his chair.

The formal business of the Court began. At the beckoning of an usher
people of all sorts appeared singly and handed in petitions written on
rolled-up papyri, which the Vizier Nehesi took and threw into a leathern
sack that was held open by a black slave. In some cases an answer to his
petition, whereof this was only the formal delivery, was handed back
to the suppliant, who touched his brow with the roll that perhaps
meant everything to him, and bowed himself away to learn his fate. Then
appeared sheiks of the desert tribes, and captains from fortresses in
Syria, and traders who had been harmed by enemies, and even peasants who
had suffered violence from officers, each to make his prayer. Of all of