The fan-bearer did not look at the king.  It was Kenkenes who interested him.

The young man’s frame did not show a tremor, nor his face any excitement.  There was an intense quiescence in his whole presence.  Hotep, who knew the provocation of his friend and interpreted the menace in his manner, walked swiftly over to Kenkenes, as if to caution or prevent.  But the young sculptor undid the small hands of the king, clinging to his arm, and gave them to Hotep, halting, by that act, all interference from the scribe.  Then he crossed the little space between him and the fan-bearer.

“What hast thou done with the Israelite?” he asked in a tone so low that none but Har-hat heard him.  But the fan-bearer did not doubt the earnestness in the quiet demand.

“Hast thou come to trouble the king with thy petty loves, during this, the hour of war?”

“Answer!”

“She escaped me,” the fan-bearer answered.

“A lie will not save thee; the truth may plead for thee before Osiris.  Hast thou spoken truly?”

“I have said, as Osiris hears me.  Have done; I have no more time for thee!”

“Stand thou there!  I have not done with thee.”

The thin nostril of the fan-bearer expanded and quivered wrathfully.

“Have a care, thou insolent!” he exclaimed.

Kenkenes did not seem to hear him.  He had turned toward Meneptah.

“I have dared over-far, my King,” he said, “because of my love for Egypt and my concern for thee.  Bear with me further, I pray thee.”

Meneptah bent his head in assent.

“Suffer mine inquiry, O Son of Ptah.  Wilt thou tell me upon whose persuasion thou hast gathered thine army and set forth to pursue Israel?”

“Upon the persuasion of Har-hat, my minister.”

“Yet this question further, my King.  Wherefore would he have thee overtake these people?”

“Since it was foolish to let them go, being my slaves, my builders and very needful to Egypt.  But most particularly to execute vengeance upon them for the death of my Rameses, and for the first-born of Egypt.”

“Ye hear,” Kenkenes said to the nobles.  Then he faced Har-hat.  The fan-bearer’s countenance showed a remarkable increase of temper, but there was no sign of apprehension or discomfiture upon it.

“Thou hast beheld the grace of thy king under question,” Kenkenes said calmly.  “Therefore thou art denied the plea that submission to the same thing will belittle thee.  Thy best defense is patience and prompt answer.”

“Perchance the king will recall his graceful testimony,” Har-hat replied with heat, “when he learns he hath been entangled in the guilty pursuit of a miscreant after—­”

Kenkenes stopped him with a menacing gesture.

“Say it not; nor tempt me further!  Thou speakest of a quarrel between thee and me, and of that there may be more hereafter.  Now, thou art to answer to mine impeachment of thee as an offender against the Pharaoh.”