While I was waiting old Bakenkhonsu hobbled towards me, the crowd making way for him, and I could see that there was laughter in his sunken eyes.
"We are ill-placed, Ana," he said.

"Still if any of the many gods there are in Egypt should chance to rain fires on Pharaoh, we shall be the safer.

Talking of gods," he went on in a whisper, "have you heard what happened an hour ago in the temple of Ptah of Tanis whence I have just come?
Pharaoh and all the Blood-royal--save one--walked according to custom before the statue of the god which, as you know, should bow its head to show that he chooses and accepts the king.

In front of Amenmeses went the Princess Userti, and as she passed the head of the god bowed, for I saw it, though all pretended that they did not see.

Then came Pharaoh and stood waiting, but it would not bow, though the priests called in the old formula, 'The god greets the king.' "At length he went on, looking as black as night, and others of the blood of Rameses followed in their order.