"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."