He had never met repulse
or defeat; he had never entered the presence of his peer; he had never
loved, he had never prayed. He was a solitary power, who admitted
death as his only equal, and defied even him.
The other counselors were minor members of the cabinet, who had been
summoned, but expected only to hear and keep silence while the great
powers--the king, the prince, the priest and the fan-bearer--conferred.
Loi entered, bowing and walking with palsied step. At one time the
three central figures of the hall had been his pupils. He had taught
them from the simplest hieratic catechism to the initiation into the
mysteries. As novices they had kissed his hand and borne him
reverence. Now as the initiated, exalted through the acquisition of
power, it lay with them to reverse conditions if they pleased. But as
the old prelate prepared to do obeisance before Meneptah, he was stayed
with a gesture, and after a word of greeting was dismissed to his
place. Rameses saluted him with a motion of his hand and Har-hat bowed
reverently. The pontiff backed away to the great council table set
opposite the throne and was met there by a courtier with a chair.
At a sign from the king, who had already sunk into his throne, the old
man sat.
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