Asti, his mother, waited also, but she was clad in a plain black robe, and over her head was a black veil.

Presently that captain who had shown them their lodging, came to them and asked if they were ready to be led before the Viceroy of Napata.
"Viceroy ?" answered Asti, "I thought he was a King." "So he is, my good Woman," replied the captain, "but it his fancy to call himself the Viceroy of Neter-Tua, Star of Amen, wife of Abi the Usurper who rules in Egypt.

A mad fancy when he might be a Pharaoh on his own account, but so it is." "Well, Sir," said Asti, "we merchants have nothing to do with these high matters; lead us to this Pharaoh, or General, or Viceroy, with whom we hope to transact business." So the captain conducted them to a side gate of the palace, and thence through various passages and halls, in some of which Tua recognised officers of her own whom she had commanded to accompany Rames, to an apartment of no great size, where he bade them be seated.

Presently a door opened, and through it came Rames, plainly dressed in the uniform of an Egyptian general, on which they saw he wore no serpent crest or other of the outward signs of royalty.

Only on his right hand that lacked the little finger, gleamed a certain royal ring, which Tua knew.