THE PROPHECY Whether or no the Prince Seti saw Userti again before the hour of his marriage with her I cannot say, because he never told me.

Indeed I was not present at the marriage, for the reason that I had been granted leave to return to Memphis, there to settle my affairs and sell my house on entering upon my appointment as private scribe to his Highness.

Thus it came about that fourteen full days went by from that of the holding of the Court of Betrothal before I found myself standing once more at the gate of the Prince's palace, attended by a servant who led an ass on which were laden all my manuscripts and certain possessions that had descended to me from my ancestors with the title-deeds of their tombs.
Different indeed was my reception on this my second coming.

Even as I reached the steps the old chamberlain Pambasa appeared, running down them so fast that his white robes and beard streamed upon the air.
"Greeting, most learned scribe, most honourable Ana," he panted.

"Glad indeed am I to see you, since very hour his Highness asks if you have returned, and blames me because you have not come.