CHAPTER VII.
An hour later, Bent-Anat and her train of followers stood before the gate of the House of Seti.
Swift as a ball thrown from a man's hand, a runner had sprung forward and hurried on to announce the approach of the princess to the chief priest.

She stood alone in her chariot, in advance of all her companions, for Pentaur had found a place with Paaker.

At the gate of the temple they were met by the head of the haruspices.
The great doors of the pylon were wide open, and afforded a view into the forecourt of the sanctuary, paved with polished squares of stone, and surrounded on three sides with colonnades.

The walls and architraves, the pillars and the fluted cornice, which slightly curved in over the court, were gorgeous with many colored figures and painted decorations.

In the middle stood a great sacrificial altar, on which burned logs of cedar wood, whilst fragrant balls of Kyphi [Kyphi was a celebrated Egyptian incense.