Uarda : a Romance of Ancient Egypt — Complete

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  While the two friends from the House of Seti were engaged inconversation, Katuti restlessly paced the large open hall of herson-in-law's house, in which we have already seen her. A snow-white catfollowed her steps, now playing with the hem of her long plain dress,and now turning to a large stand on which the dwarf Nemu sat in a heap;where formerly a silver statue had stood, which a few months previouslyhad been sold.

  He liked this place, for it put him in a position to look into the eyesof his mistress and other frill-grown people. "If you have betrayed me!If you have deceived me!" said Katuti with a threatening gesture as shepassed his perch.

  "Put me on a hook to angle for a crocodile if I have. But I am curiousto know how he will offer you the money."

  "You swore to me," interrupted his mistress with feverish agitation,"that you had not used my name in asking Paaker to save us?"

  "A thousand times I swear it," said the little man.

  "Shall I repeat all our conversation? I tell thee he will sacrifice hisland, and his house-great gate and all, for one friendly glance fromNefert's eyes."

  "If only Mena loved her as he does!" sighed the widow, and then againshe walked up and down the hall in silence, while the dwarf looked outat the garden entrance. Suddenly she paused in front of Nemu, and saidso hoarsely that Nemu shuddered:

  "I wish she were a widow." "The little man made a gesture as if toprotect himself from the evil eye, but at the same instant he slippeddown from his pedestal, and exclaimed:

  "There is a chariot, and I hear his big dog barking. It is he. Shall Icall Nefert?"

  "No!" said Katuti in a low voice, and she clutched at the back of achair as if for support.

  The dwarf shrugged his shoulders, and slunk behind a clump of ornamentalplants, and a few minutes later Paaker stood in the presence of Katuti,who greeted him, with quiet dignity and self-possession.

  Not a feature of her finely-cut face betrayed her inward agitation,and after the Mohar had greeted her she said with rather patronizingfriendliness:

  "I thought that you would come. Take a seat. Your heart is like yourfather's; now that you are friends with us again it is not by halves."

  Paaker had come to offer his aunt the sum which was necessary forthe redemption of her husband's mummy. He had doubted for a long timewhether he should not leave this to his mother, but reserve partlyand partly vanity had kept him from doing so. He liked to display hiswealth, and Katuti should learn what he could do, what a son-in-law shehad rejected.

  He would have preferred to send the gold, which he had resolved to giveaway, by the hand of one of his slaves, like a tributary prince.But that could not be done so he put on his finger a ring set with avaluable stone, which king Seti I., had given to his father, and addedvarious clasps and bracelets to his dress.

  When, before leaving the house, he looked at himself in a mirror, hesaid to himself with some satisfaction, that he, as he stood, was worthas much as the whole of Mena's estates.

  Since his conversation with Nemu, and the dwarf's interpretation ofhis dream, the path which he must tread to reach his aim had been plainbefore him. Nefert's mother must be won with the gold which would saveher from disgrace, and Mena must be sent to the other world. He reliedchiefly on his own reckless obstinacy--which he liked to call firmdetermination--Nemu's cunning, and the love-philter.

  He now approached Katuti with the certainty of success, like a merchantwho means to acquire some costly object, and feels that he is richenough to pay for it. But his aunt's proud and dignified mannerconfounded him.

  He had pictured her quite otherwise, spirit-broken, and suppliant;and he had expected, and hoped to earn, Nefert's thanks as well as hermother's by his generosity. Mena's pretty wife was however absent, andKatuti did not send for her even after he had enquired after her health.

  The widow made no advances, and some time passed in indifferentconversation, till Paaker abruptly informed her that he had heard of herson's reckless conduct, and had decided, as being his mother's nearestrelation, to preserve her from the degradation that threatened her. Forthe sake of his bluntness, which she took for honesty, Katuti forgavethe magnificence of his dress, which under the circumstances certainlyseemed ill-chosen; she thanked him with dignity, but warmly, more forthe sake of her children than for her own; for life she said was openingbefore them, while for her it was drawing to its close.

  "You are still at a good time of life," said Paaker.

  "Perhaps at the best," replied the widow, "at any rate from my point ofview; regarding life as I do as a charge, a heavy responsibility."

  "The administration of this involved estate must give you many, anxioushours--that I understand." Katuti nodded, and then said sadly:

  "I could bear it all, if I were not condemned to see my poor child beingbrought to misery without being able to help her or advise her. You oncewould willingly have married her, and I ask you, was there a maiden inThebes--nay in all Egypt--to compare with her for beauty? Was she notworthy to be loved, and is she not so still? Does she deserve that herhusband should leave her to starve, neglect her, and take a strangewoman into his tent as if he had repudiated her? I see what you feelabout it! You throw all the blame on me. Your heart says: 'Why did shebreak off our betrothal,' and your right feeling tells you that youwould have given her a happier lot."

  With these words Katuti took her nephew's hand, and went on withincreasing warmth.

  "We know you to-day for the most magnanimous man in Thebes, for you haverequited injustice with an immense benefaction; but even as a boy youwere kind and noble. Your father's wish has always been dear andsacred to me, for during his lifetime he always behaved to us as anaffectionate brother, and I would sooner have sown the seeds of sorrowfor myself than for your mother, my beloved sister. I brought up mychild--I guarded her jealously--for the young hero who was absent,proving his valor in Syria--for you and for you only. Then your fatherdied, my sole stay and protector."

  "I know it all!" interrupted Paaker looking gloomily at the floor.

  "Who should have told you?" said the widow. "For your mother, when thathad happened which seemed incredible, forbid us her house, and shut herears. The king himself urged Mena's suit, for he loves him as his ownson, and when I represented your prior claim he commanded;--and who mayresist the commands of the sovereign of two worlds, the Son of Ra? Kingshave short memories; how often did your father hazard his life for him,how many wounds had he received in his service. For your father's sakehe might have spared you such an affront, and such pain."

  "And have I myself served him, or not?" asked the pioneer flushingdarkly.

  "He knows you less," returned Katuti apologetically. Then she changedher tone to one of sympathy, and went on:

  "How was it that you, young as you were, aroused his dissatisfaction,his dislike, nay his--"

  "His what?" asked the pioneer, trembling with excitement.

  "Let that pass!" said the widow soothingly. "The favor and disfavor ofkings are as those of the Gods. Men rejoice in the one or bow to theother."

  "What feeling have I aroused in Rameses besides dissatisfaction, anddislike? I insist on knowing!" said Paaker with increasing vehemence.

  "You alarm me," the widow declared. "And in speaking ill of you, hisonly motive was to raise his favorite in Nefert's estimation."

  "Tell me what he said!" cried the pioneer; cold drops stood on his brownforehead, and his glaring eyes showed the white eye-balls.

  Katuti quailed before him, and drew back, but he followed her, seizedher arm, and said huskily:

  "What did he say?"

  "Paaker!" cried the widow in pain and indignation. "Let me go. It isbetter for you that I should not repeat the words with which Ramesessought to turn Nefert's heart from you. Let me go, and remember to whomyou are speaking."

  But Paaker gripped her elbow the tighter, and urgently repeated hisquestion.

  "Shame upon you!" cried Katuti, "you are hurting me; let me go! You willnot till yo
u have heard what he said? Have your own way then, but thewords are forced from me! He said that if he did not know your motherSetchem for an honest woman, he never would have believed you were yourfather's son--for you were no more like him than an owl to an eagle."

  Paaker took his hand from Katuti's arm. "And so--and so--" he mutteredwith pale lips.

  "Nefert took your part, and I too, but in vain. Do not take the wordstoo hardly. Your father was a man without an equal, and Rameses cannotforget that we are related to the old royal house. His grandfather, hisfather, and himself are usurpers, and there is one now living who has abetter right to the throne than he has."

  "The Regent Ani!" exclaimed Paaker decisively. Katuti nodded, she wentup to the pioneer and said in a whisper:

  "I put myself in your hands, though I know they may be raised againstme. But you are my natural ally, for that same act of Rameses thatdisgraced and injured you, made me a partner in the designs of Ani. Theking robbed you of your bride, me of my daughter. He filled your soulwith hatred for your arrogant rival, and mine with passionate regret forthe lost happiness of my child. I feel the blood of Hatasu in my veins,and my spirit is high enough to govern men. It was I who roused thesleeping ambition of the Regent--I who directed his gaze to the throneto which he was destined by the Gods. The ministers of the Gods, thepriests, are favorably disposed to us; we have--"

  At this moment there was a commotion in the garden, and a breathlessslave rushed in exclaiming "The Regent is at the gate!"

  Paaker stood in stupid perplexity, but he collected himself with aneffort and would have gone, but Katuti detained him.

  "I will go forward to meet Ani," she said. "He will be rejoiced to seeyou, for he esteems you highly and was a friend of your father's."

  As soon as Katuti had left the hall, the dwarf Nemu crept out of hishiding-place, placed himself in front of Paaker, and asked boldly:

  "Well? Did I give thee good advice yesterday, or no?"

  Put Paaker did not answer him, he pushed him aside with his foot, andwalked up and down in deep thought.

  Katuti met the Regent half way down the garden. He held a manuscriptroll in his hand, and greeted her from afar with a friendly wave of hishand.

  The widow looked at him with astonishment.

  It seemed to her that he had grown taller and younger since the lasttime she had seen him.

  "Hail to your highness!" she cried, half in joke half reverently, andshe raised her hands in supplication, as if he already wore the doublecrown of Upper and Lower Egypt. "Have the nine Gods met you? have theHathors kissed you in your slumbers? This is a white day--a lucky day--Iread it in your face!" "That is reading a cipher!" said Ani gaily, butwith dignity. "Read this despatch."

  Katuti took the roll from his hand, read it through, and then returnedit.

  "The troops you equipped have conquered the allied armies of theEthiopians," she said gravely, "and are bringing their prince in fettersto Thebes, with endless treasure, and ten thousand prisoners! The Godsbe praised!"

  "And above all things I thank the Gods that my general Scheschenk--myfoster-brother and friend--is returning well and unwounded from thewar. I think, Katuti, that the figures in our dreams are this day takingforms of flesh and blood!"

  "They are growing to the stature of heroes!" cried the widow. "And youyourself, my lord, have been stirred by the breath of the Divinity. Youwalk like the worthy son of Ra, the Courage of Menth beams in your eyes,and you smile like the victorious Horus."

  "Patience, patience my friend," said Ani, moderating the eagernessof the widow; "now, more than ever, we must cling to my principle ofover-estimating the strength of our opponents, and underrating our own.Nothing has succeeded on which I had counted, and on the contrary manythings have justified my fears that they would fail. The beginning ofthe end is hardly dawning on us."

  "But successes, like misfortunes, never come singly," replied Katuti.

  "I agree with you," said Ani. "The events of life seem to me to fall ingroups. Every misfortune brings its fellow with it--like every piece ofluck. Can you tell me of a second success?"

  "Women win no battles," said the widow smiling. "But they win allies,and I have gained a powerful one."

  "A God or an army?" asked Ani.

  "Something between the two," she replied. "Paaker, the king's chiefpioneer, has joined us;" and she briefly related to Ani the history ofher nephew's love and hatred.

  Ani listened in silence; then he said with an expression of muchdisquiet and anxiety:

  "This man is a follower of Rameses, and must shortly return to him. Manymay guess at our projects, but every additional person who knows themmay be come a traitor. You are urging me, forcing me, forward toosoon. A thousand well-prepared enemies are less dangerous than oneuntrustworthy ally--"

  "Paaker is secured to us," replied Katuti positively. "Who will answerfor him?" asked Ani.

  "His life shall be in your hand," replied Katuti gravely. "My shrewdlittle dwarf Nemu knows that he has committed some secret crime, whichthe law punishes by death."

  The Regent's countenance cleared.

  "That alters the matter," he said with satisfaction. "Has he committed amurder?"

  "No," said Katuti, "but Nemu has sworn to reveal to you alone all thathe knows. He is wholly devoted to us."

  "Well and good," said Ani thoughtfully, "but he too is imprudent--muchtoo imprudent. You are like a rider, who to win a wager urges his horseto leap over spears. If he falls on the points, it is he that suffers;you let him lie there, and go on your way."

  "Or are impaled at the same time as the noble horse," said Katutigravely. "You have more to win, and at the same time more to lose thanwe; but the meanest clings to life; and I must tell you, Ani, that Iwork for you, not to win any thing through your success, but because youare as dear to me as a brother, and because I see in you the embodimentof my father's claims which have been trampled on."

  Ani gave her his hand and asked:

  "Did you also as my friend speak to Bent-Anat? Do I interpret yoursilence rightly?"

  Katuti sadly shook her head; but Ani went on: "Yesterday that would havedecided me to give her up; but to-day my courage has risen, and if theHathors be my friends I may yet win her."

  With these words he went in advance of the widow into the hall, wherePaaker was still walking uneasily up and down.

  The pioneer bowed low before the Regent, who returned the greeting witha half-haughty, half-familiar wave of the hand, and when he had seatedhimself in an arm-chair politely addressed Paaker as the son of afriend, and a relation of his family.

  "All the world," he said, "speaks of your reckless courage. Men like youare rare; I have none such attached to me. I wish you stood nearer tome; but Rameses will not part with you, although--although--In point offact your office has two aspects; it requires the daring of a soldier,and the dexterity of a scribe. No one denies that you have the first,but the second--the sword and the reed-pen are very different weapons,one requires supple fingers, the other a sturdy fist. The king used tocomplain of your reports--is he better satisfied with them now?"

  "I hope so," replied the Mohar; "my brother Horus is a practised writer,and accompanies me in my journeys."

  "That is well," said Ani. "If I had the management of affairs I shouldtreble your staff, and give you four--five--six scribes under you,who should be entirely at your command, and to whom you could give thematerials for the reports to be sent out. Your office demands that youshould be both brave and circumspect; these characteristics are rarelyunited; but there are scriveners by hundreds in the temples."

  "So it seems to me," said Paaker.

  Ani looked down meditatively, and continued--"Rameses is fond ofcomparing you with your father. That is unfair, for he--who is now withthe justified--was without an equal; at once the bravest of heroes andthe most skilful of scribes. You are judged unjustly; and it grieves meall the more that you belong, through your mother, to my poor but royalhouse. We will see whether I cannot
succeed in putting you in the rightplace. For the present you are required in Syria almost as soon asyou have got home. You have shown that you are a man who does not feardeath, and who can render good service, and you might now enjoy yourwealth in peace with your wife."

  "I am alone," said Paaker.

  "Then, if you come home again, let Katuti seek you out the prettiestwife in Egypt," said the Regent smiling. "She sees herself every day inher mirror, and must be a connoisseur in the charms of women."

  Ani rose with these words, bowed to Paaker with studied friendliness,gave his hand to Katuti, and said as he left the hall:

  "Send me to-day the--the handkerchief--by the dwarf Nemu."

  When he was already in the garden, he turned once more and said toPaaker

  "Some friends are supping with me to-day; pray let me see you too."

  The pioneer bowed; he dimly perceived that he was entangled in invisibletoils. Up to the present moment he had been proud of his devotion tohis calling, of his duties as Mohar; and now he had discovered that theking, whose chain of honor hung round his neck, undervalued him, andperhaps only suffered him to fill his arduous and dangerous post for thesake of his father, while he, notwithstanding the temptationsoffered him in Thebes by his wealth, had accepted it willingly anddisinterestedly. He knew that his skill with the pen was small, but thatwas no reason why he should be despised; often had he wished that hecould reconstitute his office exactly as Ani had suggested, but hispetition to be allowed a secretary had been rejected by Rameses. Whathe spied out, he was told was to be kept secret, and no one could beresponsible for the secrecy of another.

  As his brother Horus grew up, he had followed him as his obedientassistant, even after he had married a wife, who, with her child,remained in Thebes under the care of Setchem.

  He was now filling Paaker's place in Syria during his absence; badlyenough, as the pioneer thought, and yet not without credit; for thefellow knew how to write smooth words with a graceful pen.

  Paaker, accustomed to solitude, became absorbed in thought, forgettingeverything that surrounded him; even the widow herself, who had sunk onto a couch, and was observing him in silence.

  He gazed into vacancy, while a crowd of sensations rushed confusedlythrough his brain. He thought himself cruelly ill-used, and he felt toothat it was incumbent on him to become the instrument of a terrible fateto some other person. All was dim 'and chaotic in his mind, his lovemerged in his hatred; only one thing was clear and unclouded by doubt,and that was his strong conviction that Nefert would be his.

  The Gods indeed were in deep disgrace with him. How much he had expendedupon them--and with what a grudging hand they had rewarded him; he knewof but one indemnification for his wasted life, and in that he believedso firmly that he counted on it as if it were capital which he hadinvested in sound securities. But at this moment his resentful feelingsembittered the sweet dream of hope, and he strove in vain for calmnessand clear-sightedness; when such cross-roads as these met, no amulet, nodivining rod could guide him; here he must think for himself, and beathis own road before he could walk in it; and yet he could think out noplan, and arrive at no decision.

  He grasped his burning forehead in his hands, and started from hisbrooding reverie, to remember where he was, to recall his conversationwith the mother of the woman he loved, and her saying that she wascapable of guiding men.

  "She perhaps may be able to think for me," he muttered to himself."Action suits me better."

  He slowly went up to her and said:

  "So it is settled then--we are confederates."

  "Against Rameses, and for Ani," she replied, giving him her slenderhand.

  "In a few days I start for Syria, meanwhile you can make up your mindwhat commissions you have to give me. The money for your son shallbe conveyed to you to-day before sunset. May I not pay my respects toNefert?"

  "Not now, she is praying in the temple."

  "But to-morrow?"

  "Willingly, my dear friend. She will be delighted to see you, and tothank you."

  "Farewell, Katuti."

  "Call me mother," said the widow, and she waved her veil to him as alast farewell.