"The gods only know. Rameses hath been smitten and is dying, or even now is dead!"
"Rameses!" she breathed in a terrified whisper. "Rameses! And an hour ago I talked with him—so strong, so resolute, so full of life—O Holy Isis!"
"It is a pestilence sent by Mesu. The whole city is afflicted. Ptah shield us!"
The hangings that covered the entrance to each suite of chambers had been thrown aside and the interiors were vacant. But the farther end of the hall was filled with terrified courtiers in all attitudes and degrees of extravagant demonstration of grief. Men and women were fallen here and there on the pavement or supporting themselves by pillar and wall, wailing, tearing their hair, wounding their faces, rending their garments.
All the dwellers of the palace were flocked about the apartments of Rameses. From the entrance into these chambers issued sounds of the wildest nature. Masanath heard and attempted to draw away from the fan-bearer.
"Take me not into that awful place!" she pleaded. "How canst thou force me, my father!"
But Har-hat did not seem to hear and pushed his way, still dragging her through the crush of shaking attendants that crowded into the outer chambers.
The sleeping-room of the heir was the focal spot of violent sorrow.
The royal pair, the king's ministers, the immediate companions of Rameses, the high priest from the Rameside temple to Set at Tanis and a corps of leeches were present. The couch was surrounded.
Seti was not present, for only in the last moment had some one realized that the young prince should be brought. Hotep had gone to conduct him to the chamber.