Furthermore, why should the
princess have taken up his cause? But he did not tarry while he
pondered.
His raiment and his money, conscientiously preserved for him by the
authorities, had been sent to him, and a little way outside the camp he
stepped from the lowest to his rightful rank, swifter than he had
descended from it. Covering his sun-burnt shoulders with his robes,
assuming the circlet once again, he went toward the distant city of
Thebes, once more in spirit and dress the son of the royal murket.
At the heavy-walled prison across the Nile he asked after the signet.
It had not been returned with the writing. Neither was there any word
to him concerning his prayer to Pharaoh for the liberty of Rachel. It
began to dawn on him that he had been released only after he had been
sufficiently punished; that he had failed in the most vital aims of his
mission; that the signet, having been found, seemed now to be lost
irretrievably. For a space his relief at his freedom was overshadowed
by chagrin, but after a little he recovered himself. "At least I am
free to care for her, now," he reflected.
Just as he emerged from the imposing doorway of the house of the
governor of police, he was jostled by a half-grown boy.
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