Meanwhile the fan-bearer laughed his way into the throne. Meneptah's
weakness for him grew into stubborn worship. The old and trusted
ministers of the monarch took offense and sealed their lips; the new
held their peace for trepidation. The queen, heretofore meek and
self-effacing, laid aside her spindle one day and, meeting her lord at
the door of the council chamber; protested in the name of his dynasty
and his realm.
But the king was beyond help, and the queen, angry and hurt, bade him
keep Har-hat out of her sight, and returned to her women. Thereafter
even Meneptah saw her rarely.
The rise of the fan-bearer was achieved in an incredibly short time.
It proved conclusively that until this period an influence against
Har-hat had been at work upon Meneptah, and seeing that Rameses had
subsided, having cause to propitiate the father of the woman he would
wed, the courtiers began to blame the prince and talk of him to one
another.
He seemed lost in a dream. In the council chamber he lounged in his
chair with his eyes upon nothing and apparently hearing nothing. But
the slow shifting of the spark in his sleepy eyes indicated to those
who observed closely that he heard but kept his own counsel.
Pages:
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418