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In a few moments they both entered the great hall, which was brilliantly lighted. Not one of the chiefs of the House of Seti was absent. Ameni sat on a raised seat at a long table; on his right hand was old Gagabu, on his left the third Prophet of the temple.
You, the future king, have freely promised to secure our privileges to us, the champions of your own ancient and sacred rights." "And you shall have them," answered the Regent with a persuasive smile. "But this man is dangerous, and you would not have him go unpunished." "He shall be severely judged," said Ameni, "but by us and in this house." "He has committed murder!" cried Ani.
Ameni initiated me, as well as you, into the knowledge of the One God." "He knows Him not," answered the other, looking thoughtfully to the eastern horizon, which every moment grew brighter. The heavens glowed with purple, and the granite peaks, each sheathed in a film of ice, sparkled and shone like dark diamonds that had been dipped in light.
They had combined strongly, and were determined to expel the inconvenient intruder at any price. Having reached his room, which had been splendidly decorated for his predecessor, Pentaur laid aside his new insignia, comparing sorrowfully the past and the present. To what an exchange Ameni had condemned him!
"Art thou at an end of thy communications?" he asked the high-priest. "It remains for me to inform you all," replied Ameni with a louder voice, to be heard by all the assembled dignitaries, "that the princess Bent-Anat yesterday morning committed a heavy sin, and that in all the temples in the land the Gods shall be entreated with offerings to take her uncleanness from her."
There Pentaur found his old friend Gagabu, who wept with delight at his safety. All that his master had accused him of seemed to be forgotten. Ameni had him clothed in a fresh white robe, he was never tired of looking at him, and over and over again clapped his hand upon his shoulder, as if he were his own son that had been lost and found again.
Ameni has grown cool, and will stir no further in the matter; the troops on which I counted are perhaps still faithful to me, but much too weak; the Hebrews, who tend their flocks here, and whom I gained over by liberating them from forced labor, have never borne arms. And you know the people.
So he answered the prince with grave determination: "I must and will punish you and I do so by requesting you to leave the House of Seti this very day." The prince turned pale. But Ameni went on more kindly: "I do not expel you with ignominy from among us I only bid you a friendly farewell.
'Only stainless garments, he said, 'befit this feast; only hearts without spot. So, brother, I will not hear an evil word about Ameni, who is most likely forced to be severe by the law; my father will enquire into it all and decide. My heart is so full, it must overflow. Come, Nefert, give me a kiss, and you too, Rameri.
His father had never failed to attend this entertainment when he was in Thebes, but he himself had to-day for the first time received the much-coveted honor of an invitation, which Ameni told him when he gave it he entirely owed to the Regent.
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