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“Sayon，“mutteredMeneptah。
“Pharaoh，havingyourleave，ItellyouthatIthinkyouhavedoneaveryevilworkthisday，onethatisunpleasingtothosePowerswhichruletheworld，whoeverandwhatsoevertheymaybe，onetoothatwillbringuponEgyptsorrowscountlessasthesand。IbelievethattheseHebrewswhomyouunjustlyseektoslayworshipagodasgreatorgreaterthanourown，andthattheyandhewilltriumphoverEgypt。I
believealsothatthemightyheritagewhichyouhavetakenfrommewillbringneitherjoynorhonourtohimbywhomithasbeenreceived。“
HereAmenmesesstartedforward，butMeneptahhelduphishand，andhewassilent。
“Ibelieve，Pharaoh——alas!thatImustsayit——thatyourdaysoneartharefewandthatforthelasttimewelookoneachotherliving。
Farewell，Pharaohmyfather，whomstillIlovemayhapmoreinthishourofpartingthaneverIdidbefore。Farewell，Amenmeses，PrinceofEgypt。Takefrommethisornamentwhichhenceforthshouldbewornbyyouonly，“andliftingfromhisheaddressthatroyalcircletwhichmarkstheheirtothethrone，heheldittoAmenmeses，whotookitand，withasmileoftriumph，setitonhisbrow。
“Farewell，LordsandCouncillors；itismyhopethatinyonderprinceyouwillfindamastermoretoyourlikingthateverIcouldhavebeen。Come，Ana，myfriend，ifitstillpleasesyoutoclingtomeforalittlewhile，nowthatIhavenothinglefttogive。“
Forafewmomentshestoodstilllookingveryearnestlyathisfather，wholookedbackathimwithtearsinhisdeep-set，fadedeyes。
Then，thoughwhetherthiswasbychanceIcannotsay，takingnonoteofthePrincessUserti，whogazedathimperplexedandwrathful，Setidrewhimselfupandcriedintheancientform：
“Life!Blood!Strength!Pharaoh!Pharaoh!Pharaoh!“andbowedalmosttotheground。
Meneptahheard。Mutteringbeneathhisbreath，“Oh!Seti，myson，mymostbelovedson!“hestretchedouthisarmsasthoughtocallhimbackorperhapstoclasphim。AshedidsoIsawhisfacechange。Nextinstanthefellforwardtothegroundandlaytherestill。Allthecompanystoodstruckwithhorror，onlytheroyalphysicianrantohim，whileRoiandotherswhowerepriestsbegantomutterprayers。
“HasthegoodgodbeengatheredtoOsiris？“askedAmenmesespresentlyinahoarsevoice，“becauseifitbeso，IamPharaoh。“
“Nay，Amenmeses，“exclaimedUserti，“thedecreeshavenotyetbeensealedorpromulgated。Theyhaveneitherstrengthnorweight。“
Beforehecouldanswerthephysiciancried：
“Peace!Pharaohstilllives，hisheartbeats。Thisisbutafitwhichmaypass。Begone，everyone，hemusthavequiet。“
Sowewent，butfirstSetikneltdownandkissedhisfatheronthebrow。
AnhourlaterthePrincessUsertibrokeintotheroomofhispalacewherethePrinceandIweretalking。
“Seti，“shesaid，“Pharaohstilllives，butthephysicianssayhewillbedeadbydawn。Thereisyettime。HereIhaveawriting，sealedwithhissignetandwitnessed，whereinherecallsallthathedecreedintheCourtto-day，anddeclaresyou，hisson，tobethetrueandonlyheirofthethroneofEgypt。“
“Isitso，wife？Tellmenowhowdidadyingmaninaswooncommandandsealthiswriting？“andhetouchedthescrollsheheldinherhand。
“Herecoveredforalittlewhile；Nehesiwilltellyouhow，“shereplied，lookinghiminthefacewithcoldeyes。Thenbeforehecouldspeak，sheadded，“Wastenomorebreathinquestions，butactandatonce。TheGeneraloftheguardswaitsbelow；heisyourfaithfulservant。ThroughhimIhavepromisedag
