"O King, they are true, and not true. Hear me, rulers of Egypt. It is
true that I have searched in your graves, because my heart has been
drawn towards you, and I would learn all that I could concerning you,
for it comes to me _now_ that once I was one of you--no king, indeed,
yet perchance of the blood of kings. Also--for I would hide nothing even
if I could--I searched for one tomb above all others."
"Why, O man?" asked the Judge.
"Because a face drew me, a lovely face that was cut in stone."
Now all that great audience turned their eyes towards him and listened
as though his words moved them.
"Did you find that holy tomb?" asked Menes. "If so, what did you find
therein?"
"Aye, Pharaoh, and in it I found these," and he took from the box the
withered hand, from his pocket the broken bronze, and from his finger
the ring.
"Also I found other things which I delivered to the keeper of this
place, articles of jewellery that I seem to see to-night upon one who is
present here among you."
"Is the face of this figure the face you sought?" asked the Judge.
"It is the lovely face," he answered.
Menes took the effigy in his hand and read the cartouche that was
engraved beneath its breast.
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