The ruler of Egypt, Rameses XII., was nearly sixty years old. His face was withered. He wore a white mantle; on his head was a red and white cap with a golden serpent; in his hand he held a long staff. When the retinue showed itself, all present fell on their faces, except Patrokles, who, as a barbarian, stopped at a low bow, while Nitager knelt on one knee, but soon rose again. The litter stopped before a baldachin under which was an ebony throne on an elevation. The pharaoh descended slowly from the litter, looked awhile at those present, and then, taking his seat on the throne, gazed fixedly at the cornice on which was painted a rose-colored globe with blue wings and green serpents. On the right of the pharaoh stood the chief scribe, on the left a judge with a staff; both wore immense wigs. At a sign from the judge all sat down or knelt on the pavement, while the scribe said to the pharaoh,-- "Our lord and mighty ruler! Thy servant Nitager, the great guard on the eastern boundary, has come to render thee homage, and has brought tribute from conquered nations: a vase of green stone filled with gold, three hundred oxen, a hundred horses, and the fragrant wood teshep." "That is a mean tribute, my lord," said Nitager. "Real treasures we can find only on the Euphrates, where splendid kings, though weak so far, need much to be reminded of Rameses the Great." "Answer my servant Nitager," said the pharaoh to the scribe, "that his words will be taken under careful consideration. But now ask him what he thinks of the military ability of my son and heir, whom he had the honor of meeting near Pi-Bailos yesterday." "Our lord, the master of nine nations, asks thee, Nitager--" began the scribe. But the leader interrupted quickly, to the great dissatisfaction of the courtiers,-- "I hear myself what my lord says. Only the heir to the throne could be his mouth when he turns to me; not thou, chief scribe." The scribe looked with consternation at the daring leader, but the pharaoh answered,-- "My faithful Nitager speaks truth." The minister of war bowed. Now the judge announced to all present--to the priests, the officials, and the guards that--they might go to the palace courtyard; and he himself, bowing to the throne, was the first to go thither. In the hall remained only the pharaoh, Herhor, and the two leaders. "Incline thy ears, O sovereign, and listen to complaints," began Nitager. "This morning the official priest, who came at thy command to anoint my hair, told me that in going to thee I was to leave my sandals in the entrance hall. Meanwhile it is known, not only in Upper and Lower Egypt, but in the Hittite country, Libya, Phœnicia, and the land of Punt, that twenty years ago thou didst give me the right to stand before thee in sandals." "Thou speakest truth," said the pharaoh. "Various disorders have crept into the court ceremonial." "Only give command, O king, and my veterans will produce order immediately," added Nitager.