"In this matter, Prince, as in all others I have no will but that of
Pharaoh."

"You have heard," interrupted Meneptah impatiently, "and as in our House
it has always been the custom for kin to marry kin, why should it not
be her will? Also, who else should she marry? Amenmeses is already wed.
There remains only Saptah his brother who is younger than herself----"

"So am I," murmured Seti, "by two long years," but happily Userti did
not hear him.

"Nay, my father," she said with decision, "never will I take a deformed
man to husband."

Now from the shadow on the further side of the throne, where I could
not see him, there hobbled forward a young noble, short in stature,
light-haired like Seti, and with a sharp, clever face which put me in
mind of that of a jackal (indeed for this reason he was named Thoth by
the common people, after the jackal-headed god). He was very angry, for
his cheeks were flushed and his small eyes flashed.

"Must I listen, Pharaoh," he said in a little voice, "while my cousin
the Royal Princess reproaches me in public for my lame foot, which I
have because my nurse let me fall when I was still in arms?"

"Then his nurse let his grandfather fall also, for he too was
club-footed, as I who have seen him naked in his cradle can bear
witness," whispered old Bakenkhonsu.