Hori was silent for a moment or two, his eyes thoughtful.
The two women waited.
Then, at last, he spoke.
"If Yahmose had died as intended, then the principal beneficiaries would have been Imhotep's remaining sons, Sobek and Ipy - some part of the estate would doubtless have been set aside for Yahmose's children, but the administration of it would have been in their hands - in Sobek's hands in particular.
Sobek would undoubtedly have been the greatest gainer.
He would presumably have functioned as ka-priest during Imhotep's absences and would succeed to that office after Imhotep's death.
But though Sobek benefited, yet Sobek cannot be the guilty person, since he himself drank of the poisoned wine so heartily that he died.
Therefore, as far as I can see, the deaths of these two can benefit only one person - at the moment, that is - and that person is Ipy."
"Agreed," said Esa.
"But I note, Hori, that you are far-seeing - and I appreciate your qualifying phrase.
But let us consider Ipy.
He is young and impatient; he has in many ways a bad disposition; he is at the age when the fulfillment of what he desires seems to him the most important thing in life.
He felt anger and resentment against his elder brothers and considered that he had been unjustly excluded from participation in the family partnership.
It seems, too, that unwise things were said to him by Kameni -"
"Kameni?" It was Renisenb who interrupted.
Immediately she had done so she flushed and bit her lip.
Hori turned his head to look at her.
The long, gentle, penetrating look he gave her hurt her in some indefinable way.
Esa craned her neck forward and peered at the girl.
"Yes," she said.
"By Kameni.
Whether or not inspired by Henet is another matter.
The fact remains that Ipy is ambitious and arrogant, was resentful of his brothers' superior authority and that he definitely considers himself, as he told me long ago, the superior ruling intelligence of the family." Esa's tone was dry.
Hori asked: "He said that to you?"
"He was kind enough to associate me with himself in the possession of a certain amount of intelligence."
Renisenb demanded incredulously: "You think Ipy deliberately poisoned Yahmose and Sobek?"
"I consider it a possibility, no more.
This is suspicion that we talk now - we have not yet come to proof.
Men have killed their brothers since the beginning of time, knowing that the Gods dislike such killing, yet driven by the evils of covetousness and hatred.
And if Ipy did this thing, we shall not find it easy to get proof of what he did, for Ipy, I freely admit, is clever."
Hori nodded.
"But as I say, it is suspicion we talk here under the sycamore.
And we will go on now to considering every member of the household in the light of suspicion.
As I say, I exclude the servants because I do not believe for one moment that anyone of them would dare do such a thing.
But I do not exclude Henet."
"Henet?" cried Renisenb.
"But Henet is devoted to us all.
She never stops saying so."
"It is as easy to utter lies as truth.
I have known Henet for many years.
I knew her when she came here as a young woman with your mother.
She was a relative of hers - poor and unfortunate.
Her husband had not cared for her - and indeed Henet was always plain and unattractive - and had divorced her.
The one child she bore died in infancy.
She came here professing herself devoted to your mother, but I have seen her eyes watching your mother as she moved about the house and courtyard - and I tell you, Renisenb, there was no love in them.
No, sour envy was nearer the mark - and as to her professions of love for you all, I distrust them."
"Tell me, Renisenb," said Hori. "Do you yourself feel affection towards Henet?"
"N-no," said Renisenb unwillingly. "I cannot.
I have often reproached myself because I dislike her."
"Don't you think that that is because, instinctively, you know her words are false?