"So do the gods punish traitors," said the high priest of the temple to the viceroy.
The prince halted, and fixed on him eyes full of anger. It seemed to Ramses that he would burst out with indignation, and leave that assembly of executioners; but he felt a fear of the gods and advanced behind others in silence.
The haughty heir understood now that there was a power before which the pharaohs incline. He was seized by despair almost; he wished to flee, to renounce the throne. Meanwhile he held silence and walked on, surrounded by priests chanting prayers.
"Now I know," thought he, "where people go who are unpleasant to the servants of divinity." But this thought did not decrease his horror.
Leaving the narrow corridor full of smoke, the procession found itself on an elevation beneath the open sky. Below was an immense court surrounded on three sides by low buildings instead of a wall. From the place where the priests halted was a kind of amphitheatre with five broad platforms by which it was possible to pass along the whole court or to descend to the bottom.
In the court no one was present, but certain people were looking out of buildings.
The high priest Mefres, as chief dignitary in the assembly, presented Pentuer to the viceroy. The mild face of the ascetic did not harmonize with the horrors which had taken place in the corridor; so the prince wondered. To say something, he said to Pentuer,
"It seems to me that I have met thee somewhere, pious father?"
"The past year at the maneuvers near Pi-Bailos. I was there with his worthiness Herhor."
The resonant and calm voice of Pentuer arrested the prince. He had heard that voice on some uncommon occasion. But where and when had he heard it?