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 - endless 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 behavior of late. He seems much more self-reliant - less timid - and his judgment on several points has been excellent - 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, warm-hearted 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 judgment 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 propose. 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 nor finish his sentence, but hurried away.
Esa smiled sardonically as she realized that that one phrase "in the circumstances" was the nearest Imhotep would ever get towards admitting that an accident did not fully describe the way his valued concubine had met her death.
Chapter 14
FIRST MONTH OF SUMMER, 25TH DAY
With the return of the members of the family from the Nomarch's court, the deed of association duly ratified, a general spirit of hilarity was felt. The exception was undoubtedly Ipy who had, at the last moment, been excluded from participation on the ground of his extreme youth. He was sullen in consequence and purposely absented himself from the house.
Imhotep, in excellent spirits, called for a pitcher of wine to be brought out onto the porch where it was placed in the big wine stand.
"You shall drink, my son," he declared, clapping Yahmose on the shoulder. "Forget for the moment your sorrow in bereavement. Let us think only of the good days that are to come."
Imhotep, Yahmose, Sobek and Hori drank the toast. Then word was brought that an ox had been stolen and all four men went hurriedly off to verify the report.
When Yahmose re-entered the courtyard, an hour later, he was tired and hot. He went to where the wine jar still stood in the stand. He dipped a bronze cup into it and sat down on the porch, gently sipping the wine. A little later Sobek came striding in and exclaimed with pleasure.
"Ha," he said. "Now for more wine! Let us drink to our future which is at last well-assured. Undoubtedly this is a joyful day for us, Yahmose!"
Yahmose agreed.
"Yes, indeed. It will make life easier in every way."
"You are always so moderate in your feelings, Yahmose."
Sobek laughed as he spoke and dipping a cup in the wine, he tossed it off, smacking his lips as he put it down.
"Let us see now whether my father will be as much of a stick-in-the-mud as ever, or whether I shall be able to convert him to up-to-date methods."
"I should go slowly if I were you," Yahmose counselled. "You are always so hotheaded."
Sobek smiled at his brother affectionately. He was in high good-humor.
"Old slow-and-sure," he said scoffingly.
Yahmose smiled, not at all put out.
"It is the best way in the end. Besides, my father has been very good to us. We must do nothing to cause him worry."
Sobek looked at him curiously.
"You are really fond of our father? You are an affectionate creature, Yahmose! Now I - I care for nobody - for nobody, that is, but Sobek, long life to him!"
He took another draught of wine.
"Be careful," Yahmose said warningly. "You have eaten little today. Sometimes, then, when one drinks wine -"
He broke off with a sudden contortion of the lips.
