"As it happens, however," went on Khaemuas, in a cold voice, "I now
perceive that there is hidden in this place, and spying on us, one of
the worst of these vile thieves. I say to your Majesties that I see him
crouched beneath yonder funeral barge, and that he has with him at this
moment the hand of one of your Majesties, stolen by him from her tomb at
Thebes."
Now every queen in the company became visibly agitated (Smith, who was
watching Ma-Mee, saw her hold up her hands and look at them), while all
the Pharaohs pointed with their fingers and exclaimed together, in a
voice that rolled round the hall like thunder:
"Let him be brought forth to judgment!"
Khaemuas raised his wand and, holding it towards the boat where Smith
was hidden, said:
"Draw near, Vile One, bringing with thee that thou hast stolen."
Smith tried hard to remain where he was. He sat himself down and set
his heels against the floor. As the reader knows, he was always shy and
retiring by disposition, and never had these weaknesses oppressed him
more than they did just then. When a child his favourite nightmare had
been that the foreman of a jury was in the act of proclaiming him
guilty of some dreadful but unstated crime.
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