offices and wealth that Pharaoh has been pleased to confer upon me, his
first-born."

"Let the words of the Count Ramessu be written down," said Pharaoh, "and
placed in the temple of Ptah of this city, and in the temples of Ptah
at Memphis and of Amon at Thebes, that hereafter they may never be
questioned."

The scribes in attendance wrote down the words and, at a sign from the
Prince Seti, I also wrote them down, setting the papyrus I had with me
on my knee. When this was finished Pharaoh went on.

"Therefore, O Prince Seti, you are the heir of Egypt and perhaps, as
those Hebrew prophets said, will ere long be called upon to sit in my
place on its throne."

"May the King live for ever!" exclaimed Seti, "for well he knows that I
do not seek his crown and dignities."

"I do know it well, my son; so well that I wish you thought more of that
crown and those dignities which, if the gods will, must come to you. If
they will it not, next in the order of succession stands your cousin,
the Count Amenmeses, who is also of royal blood both on his father's
and his mother's side, and after him I know not who, unless it be
my daughter and your half-sister, the royal Princess Userti, Lady of
Egypt."

Now Userti spoke, very earnestly, saying:

"O Pharaoh, surely my right in the succession, according to ancient