Also there were others of whom I took no count, such as Arab headmen from the desert, traders with jewels and other wares to sell, farmers and even peasants with petitions to present, lawyers and their clients, and I know not who besides, through which of all these none were suffered to advance beyond a certain mark where the light began to fall.

Speaking in whispers all of these folk flitted to and fro like bats in a tomb.
We waited between two Hathor-headed pillars in one of the vestibules of the hall, the Prince Seti, who was clad in purple-broidered garments and wore upon his brow a fillet of gold from which rose the uraeus or hooded snake, also of gold, that royal ones alone might wear, leaning against the base of a statue, while the rest of us stood silent behind him.
For a time he was silent also, as a man might be whose thoughts were otherwhere.

At length he turned and said to me: "This is weary work.

Would I had asked you to bring that new tale of yours, Scribe Ana, that we might have read it together." "Shall I tell you the plot of it, Prince ?" "Yes.

I mean, not now, lest I should forget my manners listening to you.
Look," and he pointed to a dark-browed, fierce-eyed man of middle age who passed up the hall as though he did not see us, "there goes my cousin, Amenmeses.