The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 92

"A terrible misfortune has happened," replied the officer. "The son of the erpatr is killed."

"What? Who?" cried the nomarch.

"The son of the Jewess Sarah."

"Who killed him? When--"

"Last night."

"But who could do this?"

The officer bent his head and spread his arms.

"I asked who killed him?" repeated the nomarch, more astonished than angry.

"Be pleased, lord, thyself to investigate. My lips will not utter what my ears have heard."

The astonishment of the nomarch increased. He gave command to lead in Sarah's servants, and sent for Mefres, the high priest. Mentezufis, as representative of the minister of war, had gone with the viceroy.

The astonished Mefres came. The nomarch told of the murder of the child, and said that the police official dared not give explanations.

"But are there witnesses?" inquired the high priest.

"We are waiting for thy commands, holy father."

They brought in Sarah's doorkeeper.

"Hast thou heard," inquired the nomarch, "that the child of thy mistress is killed?"

The man fell to the pavement, and answered,--

"I have even seen the worthy remains broken against the wall, and I detained our lady when she ran out to the garden, screaming."

"When did this happen?"

"At midnight. Immediately after the most worthy heir came to our lady," answered the watch.

"How is this? Did the prince visit thy lady last night?" inquired Mefres.

"Thou hast said it, great prophet."

"This is wonderful!" whispered Mefres to the nomarch.

The second witness was Sarah's cook, the third her waiting-woman. Both declared that after midnight the prince had entered Sarah's chamber, stayed there awhile, then run out quickly to the garden, and soon after him appeared Lady Sarah, screaming terribly.

"But the prince remained all night in his chamber; he did not leave the palace," said the nomarch.

The police-officer shook his head, and declared that some of the palace servants were waiting in the antechamber.

They were summoned. Mefres questioned them, and it appeared that the heir had not slept in the palace. He had left his chamber before midnight, and gone to the garden; he returned when the first trumpet sounded.

When the witnesses had been led out, and the two dignitaries were alone, the nomarch threw himself on the pavement, and declared to Mefres that he was grievously ill, and would rather lose his life than carry on investigations. The high priest was very pale and excited; but he replied that they must clear up a question of murder, and he commanded the nomarch in the name of the pharaoh to go with him to Sarah's dwelling. It was not far to the garden of the heir, and the two dignitaries soon found themselves at the place where the crime had been committed.

When they entered the chamber on the first story, they saw Sarah kneeling at the cradle in such a posture as if nursing the child. On the wall and the pavement were blood spots.

The nomarch grew so weak that he was forced to sit down, but Mefres was calm. He approached Sarah, touched her arm, and said,--

"We come hither, lady, in the name of his holiness."

Sarah sprang to her feet suddenly, and, looking at Mefres, cried in a terrible voice,--

"A curse on you! Ye wished to have a Jew king, and here is the king for you. Oh, why did I, unfortunate, listen to your traitorous advice!"

She dropped, and fell again at the side of the cradle, groaning,--

"My son--my little Seti! How beautiful he was,--so cunning; just stretching out his little hands to me! O Jehovah! give him back to me, for that is in Thy power. O G.o.ds of Egypt,--Osiris, Horus, Isis,--O Isis, for thou too wert a mother! It cannot be that in the heavens there is not one who will listen to my prayer. Such a dear, little child! A hyena would have spared him--"

The high priest took her by the arms, and put her on her feet. The police and the servants filled the room.

"Sarah," said the high priest, "in the name of his holiness, the lord of Egypt, I summon thee, and command thee to answer, Who killed thy son?"

She gazed straight ahead, like a maniac, and rubbed her forehead.

The nomarch gave her water and wine, and one of the women present sprinkled her with vinegar.

"In the name of his holiness," repeated Mefres, "I command thee, Sarah, to tell the name of the murderer."

Those present withdrew toward the door; the nomarch with despairing action closed both his ears.

"Who killed?" said Sarah, in a panting voice, sinking her gaze in the face of Mefres. "Who killed, dost _thou_ ask? I know you, ye priests!

I know _your_ justice."

"Then who killed?" insisted Mefres.

"I!" cried Sarah, in an unearthly voice. "I killed my child, because ye made him a Jew."

"That is false!" hissed the high priest.

"I, I!" repeated Sarah. "Hei, ye people who see me and hear me," she turned to the witnesses, "ye know that I killed him--I--I--I!" cried she, beating her breast.

At such an explicit accusation of herself the nomarch recovered, and looked with compa.s.sion on Sarah; the women sobbed, the doorkeeper wiped away tears. But the holy Mefres closed his blue lips firmly. At last he said, with emphatic voice, while looking at the police official,--

"Servants of his holiness, I surrender this woman, whom ye are to conduct to the edifice of justice--"

"But my son with me!" interrupted Sarah, rus.h.i.+ng to the cradle.

"With thee, with thee, poor woman," said the nomarch; and he covered his face.