where I could see nothing save slabs of alabaster.

Now I sat open-mouthed, for how could this man know these things, and
the Prince laughed outright, saying:

"Ana, I begin to think you keep your counsel ill. At least I should
think so, were it not that you have had no time to tell what the
Princess yonder may have said to you, and can scarcely know the trick of
the sliding panel in that wall which I have never shown to you."

Ki chuckled again and a smile grew on old Bakenkhonsu's broad and
wrinkled face.

"O Prince," I began, "I swear to you that never has one word passed my
lips of aught----"

"I know it, friend," broke in the Prince, "but it seems there are some
who do not wait for words but can read the Book of Thought. Therefore it
is not well to meet them too often, since all have thoughts that should
be known only to them and God. Magician, what is your business with me?
Speak on as though we were alone."

"This, Prince. You go upon a journey among the Hebrews, as all have
heard. Now, Bakenkhonsu and I, also two seers of my College, seeing that
we all love you and that your welfare is much to Egypt, have separately
sought out the future as regards the issue of this journey. Although
what we have learned differs in some matters, on others it is the same.
Therefore we thought it our duty to tell you what we have learned."

"Say on, Kherheb."