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II
‘What is all this?’ Imhotep demanded as he came fussily into Esa’s room
a few minutes later. ‘Henet is deeply distressed. She came to me with the
tears running down her face. Why nobody in the house can show that de-
voted woman the most ordinary kindness–’
Esa, unmoved, gave a cackle of laughter.
Imhotep went on:
‘You have accused her, I understand, of stealing a box–a jewel box.’
‘Is that what she told you? I did nothing of the sort. Here is the box. It
seems it was found in Nofret’s room.’
Imhotep took it from her.
‘Ah yes, it is one I gave her.’ He opened it. ‘H’m, nothing much inside.
Very careless of the embalmers not to have included it with the rest of her
personal belongings. Considering the prices Ipi and Montu charge, one
could at least expect no carelessness. Well, this all seems to me a great fuss
about nothing–’
‘Quite so.’
‘I will give the box to Kait–no, to Renisenb. She always behaved with
courtesy towards Nofret.’
He sighed.
‘How impossible it seems for a man to get any peace. These women–end-
less tears or else quarrels and bickerings.’
‘Ah well, Imhotep, there is at least one woman less now!’
‘Yes, indeed. My poor Yahmose! All the same, Esa–I feel that–er–it may
be all for the best. Satipy bore healthy children, it is true, but she was in
many ways a most unsatisfactory wife. Yahmose, of course, gave in to her
far too much. Well, well, all that is over now. I must say that I have been
much pleased with Yahmose’s behaviour of late. He seems much more
self-reliant–less timid–and his judgement on several points has been excel-
lent–quite excellent…’
‘He was always a good, obedient boy.’
‘Yes, yes–but inclined to be slow and somewhat afraid of responsibility.’
Esa said drily: ‘Responsibility is a thing you have never allowed him to
have!’
‘Well, all that will be changed now. I am arranging a deed of association
and partnership. It will be signed in a few days’ time. I am associating
with myself all my three sons.’
‘Surely not Ipy?’
‘He would be hurt to be left out. Such a dear, warmhearted lad.’
‘There is certainly nothing slow about him,’ observed Esa.
‘As you say. And Sobek too–I have been displeased with him in the past,
but he has really turned over a new leaf of late. He no longer idles his time
away, and he defers more to my judgement and to that of Yahmose.’
‘This is indeed a hymn of praise,’ said Esa. ‘Well, Imhotep, I must say
that I think you are doing the right thing. It was bad policy to make your
sons discontented. But I still think that Ipy is too young for what you pro-
pose. It is ridiculous to give a boy of that age a definite position. What hold
will you have over him?’
‘There is something in that, certainly.’ Imhotep looked thoughtful.
Then he roused himself.
‘I must go. There are a thousand things to see to. The embalmers are
here–there are all the arrangements to make for Satipy’s burial. These
deaths are costly– very costly. And following so quickly one upon the
other!’
‘Oh well,’ said Esa consolingly, ‘we’ll hope this is the last of them–until
my time comes!’
‘You will live many years yet, I hope, my dear mother.’
‘I’m sure you hope so,’ said Esa with a grin. ‘No economy over me, if you
please! It wouldn’t look well! I shall want a good deal of equipment to
amuse me in the other world. Plenty of food and drink and a lot of models
of slaves–a richly ornamented gaming board, perfume sets and cosmetics,
and I insist on the most expensive canopic jars–the alabaster ones.’
‘Yes, yes, of course.’ Imhotep changed his position nervously from one
foot to the other. ‘Naturally all respect will be paid when the sad day
comes. I must confess that I feel rather differently about Satipy. One does
not want a scandal, but really, in the circumstances–’
Imhotep did not finish his sentence but hurried away.
Esa smiled sardonically as she realized that that one phrase ‘in the cir-
cumstances’ was the nearest Imhotep would ever get towards admitting
that an accident did not fully describe the way his valued concubine met
her death.
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