"Let me bear a child to fill the seat of my lord the King, and then if thou wilt, take my life in payment." But the god made no answer, and wearied out at length they rose and departed.

At the door of the sanctuary they found the high-priest awaiting them, a wizened, aged man.
"The god gave no sign, O High-priest," said Pharaoh sadly; "no voice spoke to us." The old priest looked at the weeping queen, and a light of pity crept into his eyes.
"To me, watching without," he said, "a voice seemed to speak, though what it said I may not reveal.

Go to your palace now, O Pharaoh, and O Queen Ahura, and take your rest side by side.

I think that in your sleep a sign will come to you, for Amen is pitiful, and loves his children who love him.

According to that sign so speak to the Prince Abi, speak without fear or doubt, since for good or ill it shall be fulfilled." Then like shadows, hand in hand, this royal pair glided down the vast, pillared halls till at the pylon gates, which were opened for them, they found their litters, and were borne along the great avenue of ram-headed sphinxes back to a secret door in the palace wall.
It was past midnight.