"Thy sword is mine," replied he, "and it may leave the scabbard only when I give the order." He nodded to Eunana and passed on.
After wandering a quarter of an hour by paths intended to mislead, the pharaoh found himself near a secret gate in a thicket. It seemed to him that he heard a rustle, and he said in a low voice,
"Hebron!"
A figure, also in a dark mantle, ran out, rushed at Ramses and clung to his neck, whispering,
"Is it thou? is it thou? Oh, how long I have waited!"
The pharaoh felt that she was slipping from his embrace, so he took her in his arms and carried her to an arbor. At that moment the mantle fell from his shoulders; he dragged it for a while, but at last dropped it.
Next day the revered lady Niort's summoned Tutmosis. The favorite of the pharaoh was frightened when he looked at her. The queen was terribly pale, her eyes were sunken and she was almost demented.
"Sit down!" said she, indicating a stool near her armchair.
Tutmosis hesitated.
"Sit down! And and swear that Thou wilt repeat to no one what I tell thee."