Have I spoken truth ?" "Yea, O Queen," they answered again by their spokesman.

"Rames and the royal guard have little blame in the matter," and from the rest of them rose a murmur of assent.
"Now," went on Tua with gathering confidence, for she felt that all saw with her eyes, "to add to our woes Pharaoh, my father, has been smitten by the gods.

He sleeps; he cannot speak; I know not whether he will live or die, and therefore it would seem that I, the duly-crowned Queen of Egypt, must act for him as was provided in such a case, since the matter is very urgent and may not be delayed.

Is it your will," she added, addressing the Council, "that I should so act as the gods may show me how to do ?" "It is right and fitting," answered the Vizier, the King's companion, on behalf of all of them.
"Then, priests, lords and people," continued the Queen, "what course shall we take in this sore strait?
Speaking with the voice of all of you and on your behalf, I can command that the Count Rames and all those other chosen men whom Pharaoh loves, who fought with him, shall be slain forthwith.

This, indeed," she added slowly, "I should wish to do, since although Rames had suffered intolerable insult such as no high-born man can be asked to bear even from a prince, and he and all of them were but fighting to save their lives and to show the Nubians that we are not cowards here in Egypt, without doubt they have conquered and slain the heir of Kesh and his black giants who were our guests, and for this deed their lives are forfeit." She paused watching, while although here and there a voice answered "Yes" or "They must die," from the rest arose a murmur of dissent.