She started, and answered: "Oh, it is you! I make my obeisance to your
Majesty," and she curtsied to him, humbly enough, but with a suggestion
of mockery in her movements.

"Well, you do not seem to have been very anxious to find me, Ma-Mee,
which, considering that we meet so seldom----"

"I saw that your Majesty was engaged with my sister queens," she
interrupted, in a rich, low voice, "and with some other ladies in the
gallery there, whose faces I seem to remember, but who I think were
_not_ queens. Unless, indeed, you married them after I was drawn away."

"One must talk to one's relations," replied the Pharaoh.

"Quite so. But, you see, I have no relations--at least, none whom I know
well. My parents, you will remember, died when I was young, leaving me
Egypt's heiress, and they are still vexed at the marriage which I made
on the advice of my counsellors. But, is it not annoying? I have lost
one of my rings, that which had the god Bes on it. Some dweller on the
earth must be wearing it to-day, and that is why I cannot get it back
from him."

"Him! Why 'him'? Hush; the business is about to begin."

"What business, my lord?"

"Oh, the question of the violation of our tombs, I believe."

"Indeed! That is a large subject, and not a very profitable one, I
should say. Tell me, who is that?" And she pointed to a lady who had