"
Menes bent his head upon his breast and pondered. Smith said nothing. To
him the whole play was so curious that he had no wish to interfere with
its development. If these ghosts wished to make him of their number, let
them do so. He had no ties on earth, and now when he knew full surely
that there was a life beyond this of earth he was quite prepared to
explore its mysteries. So he folded his arms upon his breast and awaited
the sentence.
But Ma-Mee did not wait. She raised her hand so swiftly that the
bracelets jingled on her wrists, and spoke out with boldness.
"Royal Khaemuas, prince and magician," she said, "hearken to one who,
like you, was Egypt's heir centuries before you were born, one also who
ruled over the Two Lands, and not so ill--which, Prince, never was your
lot. Answer me! Is all wisdom centred in your breast? Answer me! Do you
alone know the mysteries of Life and Death? Answer me! Did your god Amen
teach you that vengeance went before mercy? Answer me! Did he teach
you that men should be judged unheard? That they should be hurried by
violence to Osiris ere their time, and thereby separated from the dead
ones whom they loved and forced to return to live again upon this evil
Earth?
"Listen: when the last moon was near her full my spirit sat in my tomb
in the burying-place of queens.
Pages:
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81