"My life and honor are in your hands," concluded Herhor. "If what I have said is untrue condemn me to death, and have my body burned afterward."
No one doubted now that the high priest spoke the pure truth; for no
Egyptian would expose his body to burning and his soul to destruction.
Tutmosis spent a few days after the wedding in company with Hebron, in the palace given him by his holiness. But every evening he went to the barracks of the guard, where with officers and dancers he passed the nights very pleasantly.
From this conduct his comrades divined that he had married Hebron only for her dowry; this, however, did not astonish any one.
After five days Tutmosis announced to the pharaoh that he was ready to resume his duties. Thenceforth he visited his wife only in the daytime, the nights he passed near his lord's chamber.
One evening the pharaoh said to him,
"This palace has so many comers for watching and listening that every act of mine is noted. My revered mother is addressed again by those mysterious voices which ceased in Memphis after I dismissed the priesthood. I cannot receive therefore any one in my own chamber, but must leave the palace and take counsel with my servants in a safe place."
"Am I to follow thee, holiness?" inquired Tutmosis, seeing that the pharaoh was looking around for his mantle.
"No; Thou must stay here and see that no one enters my chamber. Admit no person, not even my mother, not even the shade of my ever-living father. Thou wilt say that I am asleep and will see no one."
"It will be as Thou hast said," replied Tutmosis, putting on his lord a hooded mantle. Then he quenched the light in the bed-chamber and Ramses went out through side passages.