She must have been one of the ladies of the house.
I do not know them.
I have the herds at the far end of the cultivation.
She wore a dress of dyed linen."
Renisenb started.
"A servant, perhaps?" suggested the priest, watching the boy.
The boy shook his head positively.
"She was not a servant... She had a wig on her head and she wore jewels - a servant does not wear jewels."
"Jewels!" demanded Imhotep.
"What jewels?"
The boy replied eagerly and confidently as though at last he had overcome his fear and was quite sure of what he was saying.
"Three strings of beads, with gold lions hanging from them in front..."
Esa's stick clattered to the floor.
Imhotep uttered a stifled cry.
Mersu said threateningly: "If you are lying, boy -"
"It is the truth.
I swear it is the truth." The boy's voice rose shrill and clear.
From the side chamber where the ill man lay, Yahmose called feebly:
"What is all this?"
The boy darted through the open door and crouched down by the couch on which Yahmose lay.
"Master, they will torture me."
"No, no."
Yahmose turned his head with difficulty on the curved, wooden headrest.
"Do not let the child be hurt.
He is simple but honest.
Promise me."
"Of course, of course," said Imhotep.
"There is no need.
It is clear the boy has told all that he knows - and I do not think he is inventing.
Be off with you, child, but do not return to the far herds.
Stay near the house so that we can summon you again if we need you."
The boy rose to his feet. He bent a reluctant glance upon Yahmose.
"You are ill, Lord Yahmose?"
Yahmose smiled faintly. "Have no fear.
I am not going to die.
Go now - and be obedient to what you have been told."
Smiling happily now, the boy went off.
The priest examined Yahmose's eyes and felt the rate at which the blood was coursing under the skin.
Then, recommending him to sleep, he went with the others out into the central hall again.
He said to Imhotep: "You recognize the description the boy gave?"
Imhotep nodded.
His deep, bronze cheeks showed a sickly plum color.
Renisenb said: "Only Nofret ever wore a dress of dyed linen. It was a new fashion she brought with her from the cities in the north. But those dresses were buried with her."
Imhotep said: "And the three strings of beads with the lions' heads in gold were what I gave her.
There is no other such ornament in the house, it was costly and unusual.
All her jewelry, with the exception of a trumpery string of camelian beads, was buried with her and is sealed in her tomb."
He flung out his arms.
"What persecution - what vindictiveness - is this!
My concubine whom I treated well, to whom I paid all honor, whom I buried with the proper rites, sparing no expense.
I have eaten and drunk with her in friendship - to that all can bear witness.