"And Renisenb?"
Henet laughed, a malicious, happy chuckle.
"Renisenb will not be here."
"You think it is Renisenb who will die next?"
"What do you think, Yahmose?"
"I am waiting to hear what you say."
"Perhaps I only meant that Renisenb will marry - and go away."
"What do you mean, Henet?"
Henet chuckled. "Esa once said my tongue was dangerous.
Perhaps it is!"
She laughed shrilly, swaying to and fro on her heels.
"Well, Yahmose, what do you say?
Am I at last to do as I choose in this house?"
Yahmose studied her for a moment before saying:
"Yes, Henet.
You are so clever. You shall do as you choose."
He turned to meet Hori, who was coming from the main hall and who said:
"There you are, Yahmose.
Imhotep is awaiting you.
It is time to go up to the Tomb."
Yahmose nodded. "I am coming."
He lowered his voice.
"Hori - I think Henet is mad - she is definitely afflicted by devils.
I begin to believe that she has been responsible for all these happenings."
Hori paused a moment before saying in his quiet, detached voice:
"She is a strange woman - and an evil one, I think."
Yahmose lowered his voice still more: "Hori, I think Renisenb is in danger."
"From Henet?"
"Yes.
She has just hinted that Renisenb may be the next to go."
Imhotep's voice came fretfully: "Am I to wait all day?
What conduct is this?
No one considers me any more.
No one knows what I suffer.
Where is Henet?
Henet understands."
From within the storeroom Henet's chuckle of triumph came shrilly.
"Do you hear that, Yahmose?
Henet! Henet is the one!"
Yahmose said fiercely: "Yes, Henet - I understand.
You are the powerful one.
You and my father and I - we three together..."
Hori went off to find Imhotep. Yahmose spoke a few more words to Henet, who nodded, her face sparkling with malicious triumph.
Then Yahmose joined Hori and Imhotep, apologizing for his delay; and the three men went up to the Tomb together.
III
The day passed slowly for Renisenb.
She was restless, passing to and fro from the house to the porch, then to the lake and then back again to the house.
At midday Imhotep returned, and after a meal had been served to him, he came out upon the porch and Renisenb joined him.
She sat with her hands clasped round her knees, occasionally looking up at her father's face.
It still wore that absent, bewildered expression.