"But then why is not Mermes King of Kesh ?" "Because the people of the city of Napata raised up another house to rule over them, of whom Amathel is the heir." "A usurping heir, surely, my father, if there be anything in blood." "Say not that, Tua," replied Pharaoh sharply, "for then Mermes should be Pharaoh in our place also." Tua made no reply, only as they took their seats in the golden chairs at the head of the hall, she asked carelessly: "Is this Prince of Kesh also a suitor for my hand, O Pharaoh ?" "What else should he be, my daughter?
Did you not know it?
Be gracious to him now, since it is decreed that you shall take him as a husband.
Hush! answer not.

He comes." As he spoke a sound of wild music arose, and at the far end of the great hall appeared a band of players gorgeously attired, who blew horns made from small tusks of the elephant, clashed brazen cymbals and beat gilded drums.

These advanced a little way up the hall and stood there playing, while after them marched a bodyguard of twenty gigantic Nubian soldiers who carried broad-bladed spears with shields of hippopotamus hide curiously worked, and were clothed in tunics and caps of leopard-skin.
Next appeared the Prince of Kesh himself, a short, stout, broad-shouldered young man, thick-featured, heavy-faced, and having large, rolling eyes.

He was clad in festal garments, and hung about with heavy chains of gold fastened with clasps of glittering stones, while from his crisp, black hair rose a tall plume of nodding ostrich feathers.

Fan bearers walked beside him, and the train of his long cloak was borne by two black and hideous dwarfs, full-grown men but no taller than a child of eight.
With one swift glance, while he was yet far away, Tua studied the man from head to foot, and hated him as she had never hated anyone before.
Then she looked over his head, as from her raised seat upon the dais she was able to do, and saw that behind him came a second guard of picked Egyptian soldiers, and that in command of them, simply clad in his scaled armour of bronze, and wearing upon his thigh the golden-handled sword that Pharaoh had given him, was none other than the young Count Rames, her playmate and foster-brother, the man whom her heart loved.