Saneha immediately arranged everything for his departure; he set his eldest son in his place, and appointed a director over his workmen. Then he bade adieu to the friendly people among whom he had so long sojourned, and they assembled in crowds to wish him a good journey and happy arrival at court. When he reached the country he had left by stealth, slinking away in disguise like a thief, he was met by princes of the royal family, who conducted him forthwith into the presence of the king. ‘I found his majesty in the old place, in the pavilion of pure gold. I fell upon my face, as one amazed. The “god” addressed me mildly, but I was as one brought out of the dark; my tongue was dumb, my limbs failed me, I knew not whether I was alive or dead. His majesty said to one of the councillors, “Lift him up that I may speak to him.” His majesty said, “Behold, thou hast gone about the lands like a runaway. Now old age has come upon thee. Thy renown is not small; be not silent and without words, for thy name is famous.” Saneha replies in broken utterances; ‘Behold, oh, my lord, how can I answer these things? Is not God’s hand upon me; it is terrible. There is that within me that causeth pain. I am before thee. Thou art mighty. Let thy majesty do as it pleaseth thee.’ The royal family were now admitted, and the king said to the queen, ‘Behold Saneha; he went away as an Amu; he has become a Sakti.’[22] To add to the confusion and alarm of the repentant exile, there now arises a great cry from some of the princes of the royal family itself, who exclaim with one voice—‘He is not in the right, O my lord the king!’ But Amenemhat, as we know, was not one to be thwarted or turned aside from his purpose;[23] and he only replies, ‘He is in the right,’ and proceeds forthwith to lavish tokens of reconciliation and favour upon Saneha. He gives him precedence in the palace, and appoints him one of the king’s intimate councillors. He is clothed in fine linen, the attire of a prince, and is anointed with fragrant oil. A princely habitation is assigned for his use whilst the labourers are busily employed erecting for him a house ‘befitting a councillor.’ No sooner is it completed than Saneha’s thoughts turn to that other house which he must prepare for himself in the western land—to the day of burial and the ‘passage to Amenti’ of which the royal letter had spoken. He built himself a tomb of stone. The king selected the spot, the chief painter designed and the sculptors carved it; all the decorations were of hewn stone. The field in which it was situated was made over to him as his own possession, and he adds: ‘My image was engraved upon the portal in pure gold. His majesty commanded it to be done. I was in favour with the king until the day of his death came.’ [Illustration: Caressing a Gazelle.] FOOTNOTES: