"Seest thou, O prince," he said, "that isolated rock? The ancients intended to chisel it also into a sphinx to match this one, for they used to place them in pairs, like their obelisks. But the grand conception has never been carried out; and you perceive that our noble queen, Amense, is erecting the pyramid of her years so near, that it in part stands upon it. Two such sphinxes crouched in front of Cheops would have been an entrance to the mausoleum worthy of it, and of him who reposes therein. Instead of carrying out this original design, the great temple and colossal wings have been built, and the avenue from the sphinx so turned aside by a slight angle, as to terminate at the central pylon; thereby making one sphinx answer the purpose of two, but at the sacrifice of proportion; for the twofold grandeur of the combined pyramids lessens the impression of the single sphinx, while the two reposing before Cheops alone, would have been in keeping with its majesty." As it was now sunset, we hastened to our chariot and drove back to the city, along the magnificent causeway I have before described. Upon my return to the palace of the high-priest, and after describing to his beautiful daughter, Luxora, the incidents of my visit, she said, with an arch smile-- "You ought not, O Sesostris, to have come away without seeing the emerald table of Hermes!" "I heard nothing of it, lady," I answered. "I have, moreover, seen splendor enough for one day. What and where is this table?" "In the central chamber of the great pyramid. The people of Egypt believe the tradition, and so also have some of its kings." "What is the tradition?" I asked. "But first, do you believe it?" "With all my heart. I never doubted it since I was a child," she answered, smiling, yet with a tone of sincerity. "My father thinks if it were true, it would have been removed when the god Noachis was placed there." "It is not in the chamber of the sarcophagus, sister," said Osiria, the sister younger than Luxora--a maiden remarkable for her sprightliness and intelligence; "it is in a vault of crystal _under_ the pyramid." "You are right, my dear sister," replied the elder, gracefully. "I will tell the prince the legend." "Then I will tell him _mine_," said Osiria, with an arch look. "I know he will like mine the best." "Because he likes you the best, is it?" her sister replied, playfully. "But have a care, Osiria; our guest is betrothed to a great princess in his own country." "That need not prevent him from being my good friend in this," responded Osiria, pleasantly. "Your tradition, noble Luxora?" I asked.