Merira probably failed to notice the queen and stopped in the doorway looking intently at the king. The queen, bending slightly forward and craning her neck, looked at Merira as intently as he did at the king.
"Merira, Merira!" she cried suddenly and there was fear in her eyes. "Why do you look at the king like that, do you want to cast a spell over him?" she laughed, but there was fear in her laughter.
He slowly turned to her and made the low ceremonial bow, bending down from his waist and stretching out his hands, palms upwards.
"Rejoice, queen Nefertiti, the delight of the Sun's delights! I have come to call the king to the Council. It seems I have come at the wrong moment."
"Why wrong? Go and tell the king."
Merira went up to the players. Laughter died down. The king jumped up and looked at him with a guilty smile.
"What is it, Merira?"
"Nothing, sire. You were pleased to call the Council for to-day."
"Oh yes, the Council! I had forgotten..... Well, let us go, let us go!" he hurried.
The bandage he had round his eyes during the game was dangling on his neck; he tried to pull it off, but could not—it got tied into a knot. Ankhi went up to him, undid the knot and took off the bandage, while Rita—Meritatona—put on his head the royal tiara he had taken off for the game.