"What are they waiting for?" asked he. "Let them attack immediately."
The courier answered that the chief band which was to attack and batter down the bronze gate had not arrived yet.
This explanation displeased the pharaoh. He shook his head, and sent an officer to Memphis to hasten the attack.
"What does this delay mean?" asked he. "I thought that my army would waken me with news of the capture of the temple. In such cases prompt action is the condition of success."
The officer rode away, but nothing had changed at the temple of Ptah. The people were waiting for something, but the chief band was not in its place yet. Some other will seemed to delay the execution of the order.
About ten the litter of Queen Niort's came to the villa occupied by the pharaoh. The revered lady broke into her son's chamber almost with violence, and fell at his feet, weeping.
"What dost Thou wish of me, mother?" asked Ramses, hardly hiding his impatience. "Hast Thou forgotten that the camp is no place for women?"
"I will not leave thee today, I will not leave thee for an instant!" exclaimed the queen. "Thou art the son of Isis, it is true, and she surrounds thee with care. But I should die from fright."
"What threatens me?" inquired the pharaoh, shrugging his shoulders.
"The priest who investigates the stars," said she, tearfully, "declared to a serving woman that Thou wilt live and reign a hundred years if this day favors thee."