My lips hardly dare repeat it, but the gate-keeper swore it was true--that the chief haruspex from the House of Seti found him in conference with Bent-Anat, the king's daughter, and at once deprived him of his office." "With Bent-Anat ?" replied the pioneer, and muttered, before the dwarf could find time to answer, "Indeed, with Bent-Anat!" and he recalled the day before yesterday, when the princess had remained so long with the priest in the hovel of the paraschites, while he had talked to Nefert and visited the old witch.
"I should not care to be in the priest's skin," observed Nemu, "for though Rameses is far away, the Regent Ani is near enough.

He is a gentleman who seldom pounces, but even the dove won't allow itself to be attacked in is own nest." Paaker looked enquiringly at Nemu.
"I know," said the dwarf "Ani has asked Rameses' consent to marry his daughter." "He has already asked it," continued the dwarf as Paaker smiled incredulously, "and the king is not disinclined to give it.

He likes making marriages--as thou must know pretty well." "I ?" said Paaker, surprised.
"He forced Katuti to give her daughter as wife to the charioteer.

That I know from herself.

She can prove it to thee." Paaker shook his head in denial, but the dwarf continued eagerly, "Yes, yes! Katuti would have had thee for her son-in-law, and it was the king, not she, who broke off the betrothal.