For Ahura knew from the day of her vision that she was doomed to die, and remembered that the tombs of the dead remain as the live hands leave them, since few waste gold and toil upon the eternal house of one who is dead.
So Ahura was buried with great pomp and all her jewels, and Pharaoh, who mourned her truly, made splendid offerings in the chapel of her tomb, and having laid in the mouth of it the funeral boat in which she was borne across the Nile, he built it up for ever, and poured sand over the rock, so that none should find its place until the Day of Awakening.
Meanwhile, the infant grew and flourished, and when it was six months old, was taken to the college of the priestesses of Amen, there to be reared and taught.
Now on the day of the birth of the Princess Neter-Tua, there happened another birth with which our story has to do.

The captain of the guard of the temple of Amen was one Mermes, who had married his own half-sister, Asti, the enchantress.

As was well known, this Mermes was by right and true descent the last of that house of Pharaohs which had filled the throne of Egypt until their line was cast down generations before by the dynasty that now ruled the land, whereof the reigning Pharaoh and his daughter Neter-Tua alone remained.

A long while past, in the early days of his reign, his council has whispered in Pharaoh's ear that he should kill Mermes and his sister, lest a day should come when they rebelled against him, proclaiming that they did so by right of blood.

But Pharaoh, who was gentle and hated murder, instead of slaying Mermes sent for him and told him all.
Then Mermes, a noble-looking man as became the stock from which he sprang, prostrated himself and said, "O Pharaoh, why should you kill me?
It has pleased the gods to debase my House and to set up yours.