I was about to follow her, as she went with a quick resolved step, when her page without the door gave the usual sign, by tinkling a silver sistrum, which forms the handles of their ivory sticks, that he wished to enter. The queen said, almost sternly--
I approached the double door, and, opening one of the inlaid valves, saw behind the page the tall figure of the Theban.
"This lord waits for an answer," said the page.
"The queen will give you audience by and by," I said. "At present her majesty is engaged. Await her leisure."
The Theban courier bit his lip, and scowled impatiently. I perceived that the man had caught the spirit of the master; and could judge how defiant and haughty Mœris must be when his courier could play the impatient follower so well. Rejoining her majesty, I said, in answer to her inquiring look, "The courier from the viceroy."
"Yes--he is restless. But I must have time!" She grew so deadly pale, as she spoke, that I supported her into the cabinet, when she sunk upon a lounge, and would have fainted away but for water at hand. When she recovered she said--
"Sesostris, my son, my friend, when you hear all, you will find excuses for me. Read that letter first."
And she placed in my hand an epistle, written upon the silver leaves which the kings of Thebes have always made use of for their royal letters.
But, my dear mother, I will here close this epistle. My next will not be for your eye at present, if ever; unless circumstances transpire which will remove the seal from the secret revealed to me.
I feel that your warmest sympathies will be with the unhappy queen.
Farewell, dearest mother! May the gods preserve you from all sorrow, and the Lord of the Sun, the Great Invisible, defend your life and throne. I hope soon to hear the result of your embassy to the barbaric King of Cyprus.
I embrace the first leisure I can command, since closing my last letter, to resume the subject which filled its pages.
This letter, however, I shall withhold, until I either have authority to send it to you, or circumstances render it expedient to destroy it; but in order to keep a record of the events now transpiring, I write them down in the shape of an epistle to my dear mother, so that hereafter, if it be necessary to refer to it for facts, there may be written evidence of them.