That was Tutmosis, the first exquisite in Memphis, who dressed and perfumed himself even during marches. "Be greeted, Rameses!" exclaimed the exquisite, pushing aside officers quickly. "Imagine thy litter is lost somewhere; thou must sit in mine, which really is not fit for thee, but it is not the worst." "Thou hast angered me," answered the prince. "Thou sleepest instead of watching the army." The astonished exquisite stopped. "I sleep?" cried he. "May the man's tongue wither up who invented that calumny! I, knowing that thou wouldst come, have been ready this hour past, and am preparing a bath for thee and perfumes." "While thus engaged, the regiment is without a commander." "Am I to command a detachment where his worthiness the minister of war is, and such a leader is present as Patrokles?" Rameses was silent; meanwhile Tutmosis, approaching him, whispered,-- "In what a plight thou art, O son of the pharaoh! Without a wig, thy hair and dress full of dust, thy skin black and cracked, like the earth in summer. The queen, most deserving of honor, would drive me from the court were she to look at thy wretchedness." "I am only tired." "Then take a seat in my litter. In it are fresh garlands of roses, roast birds, and a jug of wine from Cyprus. I have kept also hidden in the camp," added he in a lower voice, "Senura." "Is she here?" asked the prince; and his eyes, glittering a moment before, were now mist covered. "Let the army move on," said Tutmosis; "we will wait here for her." Rameses recovered himself. "Leave me, tempter! The battle will come in two hours." "What! a battle?" "At least the decision as to my leadership." "Oh, laugh at it!" smiled the exquisite. "I would swear that the minister of war sent a report of it yesterday, and with it the petition to give thee the corps of Memphis." "No matter if he did. To-day I have no thought for anything but the army." "In thee this wish for war is dreadful, war during which a man does not wash for a whole month, so as to die in-- Brr! But if thou couldst see Senura, only glance at her--" "For that very reason I shall not glance at her," answered Rameses, decisively. At the moment when eight men were bringing from beyond the Greek ranks the immense litter of Tutmosis for the use of Rameses, a horseman raced in from the vanguard. He dropped from his horse and ran so quickly that on his breast the images of the gods or the tablets with their names rattled loudly. This was Eunana in great excitement. All turned to him, and this gave him pleasure apparently. "Erpatr, the loftiest lips," cried Eunana, bending before Rameses. "When, in accordance with thy divine command, I rode at the head of a detachment, looking carefully at all things, I noticed on the highroad two beautiful scarabs. Each of these sacred beetles was rolling an earth ball toward the sands near the roadside--" "What of that?" interrupted Rameses.