“Speak on,” said Pharaoh sternly.  “Let aught that is for the welfare of Egypt be heard by Egypt.”

“Your Majesty has told me,” replied Abi bowing, “that the gods, being wrath, have denied you children.  Not so much as one girl of your blood have they given to you to fill your throne after you when in due season it pleases you to depart to Osiris.  Were it otherwise, were there even but a single woman-child of your divine race, I would say nothing, I would be silent as the grave.  But so it is, and though your queens be fair and many, so it would seem that it must remain, since the ears of the gods having been deaf to your pleadings for so long, although you have built them glorious temples and made them offerings without count, will scarcely now be opened.  Even Amen your father, Amen, whose name you bear, will perform no miracle for you, O Pharaoh, who are so great that he has decreed that you shall shine alone like the full moon at night, not sharing your glory with a single star.”

Now Ahura the Queen, who all this while had been listening intently, spoke for the first time in a quick angry voice, saying,

“How know you that, Prince of Memphis?  Sometimes the gods relent and that which they have withheld for a space, they give.  My lord lives, and I live, and a child of his may yet fill the throne of Egypt.”

“It may be so, O Queen,” said Abi bowing, “and for my part I pray that it will be so, for who am I that I should know the purpose of the kings of heaven?  If but one girl be born of you and Pharaoh, then I take back my words and give to you that title which for many years has been written falsely upon your thrones and monuments, the title of Royal Mother.”

Now Ahura would have answered again, for this sneering taunt stung her to the quick.  But Pharaoh laid his hand upon her knee and said,

“Continue, Prince and brother.  We have heard from you that which we already know too well—­that I am childless.  Tell us what we do not know, the desire of your heart which lies hid beneath all these words.”

“Pharaoh, it is this—­I am of your holy blood, sprung of the same divine father——­”

“But of a mother who was not divine,” broke in Ahura; “of a mother taken from a race that has brought many a curse upon Khem, as any mirror will show you, Prince of Memphis.”

“Pharaoh,” went on Abi without heeding her, “you grow weak; heaven desires you, the earth melts beneath you.  In the north and in the south many dangers threaten Egypt.  Should you die suddenly without an heir, barbarians will flow in from the north and from the south, and the great ones of the land will struggle for your place.  Pharaoh, I am a warrior; I am built strong; my children are many; my house is built upon a rock; the army trusts me; the millions of the people love me.  Take me then to rule with you and in the hearing of all the earth name me and my sons as your successors, so that our royal race may continue for generation after generation.  So shall you end your days in peace and hope.  I have spoken.”