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"Do you recollect the one-eyed, grey-haired, blackman, who yesterday brought me a letter? That was my sister's son." The Regent struck his forehead "Poor wretch" he muttered. "He is frightfully altered," said Katuti.
A few hours since this information would have filled Katuti with indignation and disgust; now, though she blamed the Mohar, she asked eagerly whether such a drink could be proved to have any actual effect. "Not a doubt of it," said the dwarf, "if the whole were taken, but Nefert only had half of it."
As soon as Bent-Anat had quitted Mena's domain, the dwarf Nemu entered the garden with a letter, and briefly related his adventures; but in such a comical fashion that both the ladies laughed, and Katuti, with a lively gaiety, which was usually foreign to her, while she warned him, at the same time praised his acuteness.
Pale and still as if frozen, Katuti shed not a tear; for a minute she did not speak, then she asked in a dull tone: "And Rameses?" "The Gods be praised!" answered the servant, "he is safe-rescued by Mena!" "And Ani?" "Burnt! they found his body disfigured out of all recognition; they knew him again by the jewels he wore at the banquet."
"Then, if you come home again, let Katuti seek you out the prettiest wife in Egypt," said the Regent smiling. "She sees herself every day in her mirror, and must be a connoisseur in the charms of women." Ani rose with these words, bowed to Paaker with studied friendliness, gave his hand to Katuti, and said as he left the hall: "Send me to-day the the handkerchief by the dwarf Nemu."
Bent-Anat waved her hand proudly, as if to confirm the widow's statement; but Nefert went up to her mother, threw her arms round her neck, and wept upon her shoulder. Tears glistened even in the princess's eyes when Katuti at last led her daughter towards her, and pressed yet one more kiss on her forehead.
Katuti was vexed daughter's childish impulses. "It seems to me," she said, "that you might leave off playing and trifling when I am talking of such serious matters. I have long since observed that the fate of the house to which your father and mother belong is a matter of perfect indifference to you; and yet you would have to seek shelter and protection under its roof if your husband "
The princess breathed more freely, for she had come to a resolution that if the chamberlain had failed in his mission, she would cross over to the Necropolis forbid the departure of the vessel, and in the last extremity rouse the people, who were devoted to her, against Ani. The following morning the Lady Katuti craved permission of the princess to see her daughter.
"It is a complete rebellion," cried Katuti. "Take care, you lordlings; Ameni and the other prophets are not to be trifled with." "Nor we either," said Rameri laughing, "If Pentaur is kept in banishment, I shall appeal to my father to place me at the school at Heliopolis or Chennu, and the others will follow me. Come, Bent-Anat, I must be back in the trap before sunset.
"You are jealous!" said Katuti, "and do you know of whom?" "No," replied Ani. "But I hope to find out through you. What I feel it is impossible for me to express. But one thing I know, and that is this, that I entered the palace a vacillating man that I left it firmly resolved. I now rush straight onwards, never again to turn back.
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