"Then has she committed sacrilege?" inquired Ramses, in confusion.
"Yes, unconsciously," answered Herhor. "It is lucky that I was the only man who understood it, and my decision is that between that song and our hymn the resemblance is remote. In every case let her never repeat it."
"Well, and should she purify herself?" asked the prince. "Will it suffice her, as a foreign woman, if she gives thirty cows to the temple of Isis?"
"Yes, let her give them," replied Herhor, with a slight grimace. "The gods are not offended by gifts."
"Do thou, noble lord," said Ramses, "be pleased to accept this miraculous shield, which I received from my sacred grandfather."
"I? the shield of Amenhotep?" exclaimed the minister, with emotion. "Am
I worthy of it?"
"By thy wisdom Thou art equal to my grandfather, and Thou wilt equal him in position."
Herhor made a low bow in silence. That golden shield set with precious stones, besides its great value in money, had moreover the virtue of an amulet; hence it was a regal present.
But the prince's words might have the loftier meaning that Herhor would equal Amenhotep in position. Amenhotep had been the father-in-law of a pharaoh. Had the heir decided already to marry Herhor's daughter?
That was the fond dream of Queen Nikotris and the minister. But it must be acknowledged that Ramses in speaking of the future dignities of Herhor had not thought in the least of marrying his daughter, but of giving him new offices, of which there was a multitude at the court and in the temples.