"To me it is an omen that
the idler who keeps the gate is not vigilant."
The priest shook his head and led the way without further words into
the temple. Here the young sculptor was conducted through a wilderness
of jacketed columns, over pavements that rang even under sandaled feet,
to the center of a vast hall. The priest left him and disappeared
through the all-enveloping twilight into the more sacred part of the
temple.
In a moment, Asar-Mut, high priest to Ptah, appeared, approaching
through the dusk. He wore the priestly habiliments of spotless linen,
and, like a loose mantle, a magnificent leopard-skin, which hung by a
claw over the right shoulder and, passing under the left arm, was
fastened at the breast by a medallion of gold and topaz. He was a
typical Egyptian, but thinner of lip and severer of countenance than
the laity. The wooden dolls tumbled about by the children of the realm
were not more hairless than he. His high, narrow head was ghastly in
its utter nakedness.
Kenkenes bent reverently before him and was greeted kindly by the
pontiff.
"Hast thou guessed why I sent for thee?" he asked at once.
"I have guessed," Kenkenes replied, "but it may be wildly."
"Let us see.
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