The doubt faded out of his face.
"Thou hast my word, Ta-user."
"And for that I thank thee." She bent her head and touched her lips to the hand lying nearest her.
"Give me ear, then," she continued. "Thou hast among thy ministers a n.o.ble genius, the murket, Mentu--"
The king broke in with a dry smile. "Wouldst have him for a mate?"
She shook her head till the emeralds pendent from the fillet on her forehead clinked together. Nothing could have been more childlike than the pleased smile on her face.
"Nay, nay, he would not have me," she protested. "But he hath a son."
Har-hat moved forward a pace. She noted the movement and playfully waved him back. "Encroach not. This hour is mine." Har-hat"s face wore a dubious smile.
"He hath a son," she repeated.
"He had a son, but he is dead," the king answered.
"Not so! He is in prison where thy counselor, the wicked, unfeeling, jealous, rapacious Har-hat hath entombed him!"
Har-hat sprang forward as the king lifted an amazed and angry face.
"Back!" she cried, motioning at him with her full arm. "It is time the Hathors overtook thee, thou ineffable knave!"
"I protest!" the fan-bearer cried, losing his temper.
"Enough of this play," Meneptah said sternly. "Go on with thy tale, Ta-user. I would know the truth of this."
"Thou wilt not learn it from the princess," Har-hat exclaimed.
"Ah!" Ta-user e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, a world of innocence, surprise and wounded feeling in the word.
"Thy words do not become thee, Har-hat," Meneptah said. The fan-bearer closed his lips and gazed fixedly at the princess.
She drooped her head and went on in a voice low with hurt.
"The G.o.ds judge me if my every word is not true! Har-hat imprisoned him because the gallant young man loved the maiden whom Har-hat would have taken for his harem."
Meneptah"s face blazed. "Go on," he said sharply.
"The fan-bearer had some little right on his side, for the young man had committed sacrilege in carving a statue, and had stolen the maiden away and hidden her when Har-hat would have taken her. The maiden is an Israelite, and her hiding-place is known to this day only by herself and her unhappy lover. Now comes thy villainy, O thou short of temper," she continued, looking at the fan-bearer.
"Thy father, O Shedder of Light, the Incomparable Pharaoh who reigns in Osiris, gave Mentu a signet--"
The king interrupted. "I know of that. Go on."
"When Kenkenes was overtaken and thrust into prison he sent this signet to thee, O my Sovereign, with a pet.i.tion for his release and for the maiden"s freedom. The writing and the signet came into Har-hat"s hands and he ignored them, though the signet commanded him in the name of the holy One." Her voice lowered with awe and dismay at his unregeneracy.
"Kenkenes is still in prison."
"Now, by the G.o.ds, Har-hat!" Meneptah exclaimed angrily. "I would not have dreamed such baseness in thee!"
The fan-bearer was stupefied with wrath and astonishment. Words absolutely refused to come to him. Ta-user accused him with the wide eyes of fearless righteousness. Presently she went on:
"Already hath he languished eight months in prison. His offense against the G.o.ds and against the laws of the land hath been expiated.
I would have thee set him free now, O Meneptah, that he may return to his love and comfort her."
Meneptah reached for the reed pen.
"Hold!" cried Har-hat.
"Thou dost forget thyself, good Har-hat," the princess said with dignity. "Thou speakest with thy sovereign."
"But I will be heard!" he exclaimed violently. "Hear me! I pray thee, Son of Ptah!"
Meneptah removed the wetted pen and waited.
"Thou didst give the maiden to me thyself!" he began precipitately.
"Thy doc.u.ment of gift I have yet. He stole her, hid her away, committed sacrilege and abused two of my servants nigh unto death when they sought for her. Hath he any more right to her than I? Art thou a.s.sured that he hath an honorable purpose in mind for her? She is comely and well instructed in service, and I would have put her in my daughter"s train, even as the Hebrew Miriam was lady-in-waiting to Neferari Thermuthis. If thou dost examine the records of the pet.i.tions to thee thou wilt find that I asked her expressly for household service. It is false that I had any other purpose in mind.
"As to the signet," he continued breathlessly, "there is no word upon it concerning the palliation of a triple crime! Shall we invoke the king in the blameless name of the holy One, and demand forgiveness in the name of Him who forgiveth no sin? Furthermore, thou didst give the writing into my hands, and in obedience to thy command, I acted as I thought best. My purposes have been wilfully distorted!"
Meneptah frowned with perplexity. But while he pondered, Ta-user drew near to him and said to him very softly:
"If his words be true, O my Sovereign, one lovely Israelite is as serviceable as another. The young man loves this maiden. Doubt it not! He is a worthy off-spring of that n.o.ble sire, Mentu. If he offended, he hath suffered sufficiently. Let him go, I pray thee."
"It is my word against her surmises, O Meneptah," Har-hat insisted.
The king frowned more and stroked his cheek.
"Thine anger should be abated by this time, Har-hat," he said feebly.
"His rebellion is not yet broken. I have not the slave yet," the fan-bearer retorted.
"Mayhap he is ready to surrender her now."
"Not so!" the princess put in. "He hath endured eight months. If it were eight hundred years his silence would be the same. It is proof of my boast that he loves her. No man who would comfort his flesh alone would suffer such lengths of mortification of flesh! Let him go, my King, and give the clean-souled fan-bearer another Israelite for his daughter."
"Why camest thou not sooner with this to the king?" Har-hat demanded.
"I have but this moment learned of it, and I could not leave the court without one last act for the good of the oppressed," she replied.
"Have it thy way, Ta-user. Come to me in an hour," Meneptah began.
"Nay, write it now."
"Thou art insistent."