Page:Orczy--the gates of Kamt.djvu/97

 of his glory and his might, and to-day, after five thousand times the seasons of the year have been and have gone again, Osiris sent his soul back into my body that I, too, might bring glory and might to the beloved land." "And this?" she asked, pointing to where I, puzzled, amused and humble, stood waiting to know what my share in this wonderful drama was to be.

"He is my second self," said Hugh, "placed by my side by Ra himself, to love, to counsel and to protect."

The Queen raised herself from her litter, and placing her tiny sandalled feet upon the marble floor she walked slowly but unhesitatingly towards Hugh. She certainly was exceedingly beautiful, tall above the average, with queenly bearing, magnificent eyes, and rich, voluptuous figure: but somehow, as she walked, with the shimmering folds of her black gown clinging tightly round her, she reminded me of the two grim guardians at the gates of Kamt, up there beyond the granite halls, and I did not envy Hugh his luck. Immediately in front of us stood the sacrificial altar, on which the lamb had been offered up to Ra with such astonishing results, and on it was the casket with which the Queen had tried to win over the high priest to her views. She skirted the altar, and coming close to Hugh, she knelt down at his feet, and looking up at him, she said:

"The will of Ra be accomplished upon thy servant;" and she added, turning to the high priest: "The sacrifice thou hast offered for me to the gods has brought me peace and happiness. Command the slaves of the temple to bring forth the oxen, laden with the gifts which I, in my gratitude, do offer thee."

It was impossible to conjecture what the thoughts of the solemn and learned Ur-tasen were during this