Part 17 (1/2)
Now I turned white with rage and answered,
”While I live, Mother, A”
”While you live, Son But those who cross the will of a great king, are apt to die Also this is a matter which her uncle, the Prince Peroa, must decide as policy dictates Now as ever the woame Oh! my son,” she went on, ”do not pin all your heart to the robe of this Amada She is very fair and very learned, but is she one ill love? Moreover, if so she is a priestess and it would be difficult for her to ho is sworn to Isis Lastly, reypt were free, she would be its heiress, not her uncle, Peroa For hers is the true blood, not his Would he, therefore, be willing to give her to any h her would acquire the right to rule?”
”I do not seek to rule, Mother; I only seek to wed Amada whom I love”
”Amada whom you love and whose na since it will be held that he did it by your order, gave to the King of the East, or so I understand Here is a pretty tangle, Shabaka, and rather would I be without all that gold and those priceless pearls than have the task of its unravelling”
Before I could answer and explain all the truth to her, the curtain ung aside and through it caer from the Prince Peroa, who bade me come to eat with hiht
Soset the rope of rose-hued pearls in a double chain about my neck, I kissed her and went, with Bes as also bidden
Outside a chariot aiting into which we entered
”Now, Master,” said Bes to me as we drove to the palace, ”I al lions in the East”
”Why?” I asked
”Because then, although we had much to fear, there was no woman in the story Now the woman has entered it and I think that our real troubles are about to begin Oh! to-o to seek counsel of the holy Tanofir”
”And I come with you,” I answered, ”for I think it will be needed”
CHAPTER IX THE MESSENGERS
We descended at the great gate of the palace and were led through e in Egypt, to the wing of the building in which dwelt the Prince Peroa Here ere received by a chaypt still kept soh it was but s titles of the ”Officers of Pharaoh”
The cha hall and left us, saying that he would summon the Prince ished to see me before he ate This, however, was not necessary since while he spoke Peroa, who as I guessed had been waiting forrey showed in his hair and beard, clad in white garolden circlet, from the front of which rose the _uraeus_ in the shape of a hooded snake that ht be worn by those of royal blood alone His face was full of thought and his black and piercing eyes looked heavy as though with sleeplessness Indeed I could see that he was troubled His gaze fell upon us and his features changed to a pleasant slad that you have returned safe fros I pray that they ypt”
”Greeting, Prince,” I answered, bowing my knee ”I and s, well, judge of the from my robe, I touched my forehead with the roll and handed it to him
”I see that you have acquired the Eastern customs, Shabaka,” he said as he took it ”But here in my own house which once was the palace of our forefathers, the Pharaohs of Egypt, by your leave I will omit them Amen be my witness,” he added bitterly, ”I cannot bear to lay the letter of a foreign king against e”
Then he broke the silk of the seals and read, and as he read his face grew black with rage
”What!” he cried, casting down the roll and sta bid ypt, to be his toy until he wearies of her? First I will choke her withe? Were I Pharaoh now I think your life would pay the price”
”As it would certainly have paid the price, had I not done so Prince, I brought the letter because I one, I believe, to Idernes the Satrap at Sais It is better to face the truth, Prince, and I think that I may be of more service to you alive than dead If you do not wish to send the lady A, marry her to someone else, after which he will seek her no more”
He looked at me shrewdly and said,
”To who her uncle and already married