The girls' faces fell. The poodle slightly growled at Merira and the dwarf made funny and frightful faces at him behind the king's back. It was as though a shadow had come upon everything and the sun had grown dim and looked like a 'fish's eye.'
As the king walked past the queen and Dio he looked at them dejectedly and resignedly like a schoolboy going to a dull lesson.
Dio glanced at the queen.
"Yes, follow him," she said, and Dio followed the king.
He looked round at her with a grateful smile and Merira looked at them both with his usual mute derision.
VII
The three walked into the Council Chamber. The dignitaries had long been gathered there waiting for the king. When he passed by them they prostrated themselves, sniffed the ground under his feet and, raising their shaven, egg-shaped heads stretched out their hands palms upwards, saying:
"Rejoice, Akhnaton, Joy of the Sun!"