Amon-meses and Siptah, snarling and malevolent, had left the court
abruptly on the morning of its departure for Tanis. The Hak-heb
received them once again, and an ominous calm settled over that little
pocket of fertility in the desert--Nehapehu.
Thus the court was torn with factions; old internal dissensions made
themselves evident again, but the vast murmur in Goshen was heard above
the strife.
All this had come to pass in the short space of a month. When half of
that time had elapsed, Hotep, fearing to delay the petition of Kenkenes
longer, lest conditions should become worse rather than better, met the
Pharaoh in the hall one day and gave him the writing. Earnestly the
scribe impressed Meneptah with the importance of the petition and
begged him to acquaint himself in an hour of solitude with its contents
and the identity of the supplicant.
Meneptah promised and continued to his apartments. There Har-hat came
in a few moments, and Meneptah, after his custom, gave over to him the
state communications of the day, and after some little hesitation,
tossed the petition of Kenkenes among them.
"Thou canst attend to this matter as well, good Har-hat. Why should I
take up the private concerns of my subjects when I am already burdened
with heavy cares? But do thou look to this petition faithfully.
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