Chapter 55

ABOUT ten in the evening Hiram stood before his lord. He was dressed in the dark robe of a Memphis huckster.

"Why dost Thou steal in thus, worthiness?" inquired Ramses. "Is my palace a prison, or a house of lepers?"

"Ah, our sovereign!" sighed the old Phoenician. "Since Thou hast become lord of Egypt the criminals are those who dare to see thee and not give account of what Thou art pleased to tell them."

"To whom must ye repeat my words?" inquired the pharaoh.

Hiram raised his eyes and hands to heaven.

"Holiness, thou knowest thy enemies," said he.

"Thou knowest, worthiness, why I have summoned thee. I wish to borrow a few thousand talents."

Hiram made a hissing noise through his teeth, so that the pharaoh permitted him to sit in his presence, which was the highest honor. When he had disposed himself comfortably and rested, Hiram said,

"Why shouldst Thou borrow, holiness, when Thou mayst have a rich treasury?"

"I know, when I shall get Nineveh," interrupted Ramses. "That time is distant and I need money this day."

"I speak not of war," answered Hiram; "I speak of an affair which would bring large sums to the treasury immediately, and a permanent yearly income."

"How?"

"Permit us, holiness, and assist us to dig a canal which would join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean."

"Art Thou jesting, old man?" cried the pharaoh, springing up from his seat. "Who could do such a work, and who could wish to endanger Egypt? The sea would inundate the country."

"What sea? Neither the Mediterranean nor the Red Sea would," answered Hiram calmly. "I know that Egyptian priests who are engineers have examined this work and have calculated that it would give immense profit, it is the best work on earth. But they wish to do it themselves, or rather they do not wish that the pharaoh should do it."

"Where are thy proofs?" asked Ramses.

"I have not the proofs, but I will send a priest, holiness, who will explain the whole affair to thee, with plans and estimates."

"Who is this priest?"

Hiram thought a moment and then asked,

"Have I thy promise, holiness, that no one will know of him except us? He, lord, will render more service than I. He knows many secrets and many iniquities of the priesthood."

"I promise," answered the pharaoh.

"This priest is Samentu. He is a great sage, but needs money, and he is very ambitious. And since the high priests degrade him he will overturn the order of priests; for he knows many secrets oh, many!"

Ramses meditated. He understood that that priest was a great traitor, but he estimated the magnitude of the service which the man might render.

"Well," said the pharaoh, "I will think of this Samentu. But now let us suppose for the moment that it is possible to make such a canal; what profit shall I have from it?"

Hiram raised his left hand, and counted on his fingers.

"First, holiness, Phoenicia will give thee five thousand talents of unpaid tribute; second, Phoenicia will pay for the right of doing this work; third, when the work begins we will pay one thousand talents of yearly rent, and besides as many talents as Egypt furnishes us tens of laborers; fourth, for every Egyptian engineer we will give to thee, holiness, a talent a year; fifth, when the work is finished Thou wilt give us the canal for one hundred years, and we will pay for that one thousand talents yearly. Are those small gains?" inquired Hiram.

"But now, today," asked Ramses, "would ye give me those five thousand talents tribute?"

"If the treaty is made today we will give ten thousand, and we will add three thousand as an advance of rent for a three years' period."

Ramses meditated. More than once Phoenicians had proposed the cutting of this canal to the rulers of Egypt, but they had always met the unbending resistance of the priesthood. The Egyptian sages explained to the pharaoh that that canal would expose the country to inundations from the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. But Hiram asserted that such a thing would not happen; the priests knew that it would not.

"Ye Phoenicians," said the pharaoh, after a long time, "promise to pay one thousand talents yearly for one hundred years. Ye say that that canal dug in the sand is the best affair in the world. I do not understand this, and I confess, Hiram, that I am suspicious."

Hiram's eyes flashed.

"Lord," replied he, "I mil tell thee everything, but I abjure thee by thy crown, by the shade of thy father, not to discover the secret to any one. This is the greatest secret of the Chaldean and Egyptian priests, and even of Phoenicia. On it depends the future of the world."

"Well, well, Hiram," answered the pharaoh with a smile.

"To thee, O pharaoh," continued the Phoenician, "the gods have given wisdom, nobility, and energy, therefore, Thou art on our side. Thou, alone, of earthly rulers mayst be initiated, for Thou art the only one who will be able to accomplish great objects. For this reason Thou wilt have power such as no man has ever reached before thee."

Ramses felt the sweetness of pride in his heart, but he mastered his feelings.

"Praise me not for what I have not done; but explain to me what profit will come from this canal to Phoenicia and to Egypt?"

Hiram straightened himself in the chair, and began in a lowered voice,

"Know, lord, that east, north, and south of Assyria and Babylon are not morasses inhabited by strange monsters, but immense states and countries. Those countries are so great that thy foot warriors, O holiness, renowned for marching, would have to move eastward two years without halt before they could reach the end of them."

Ramses raised his brows like one who permits some man to lie, but knows that he is lying.

"Southeast of Babylon, ac the great sea, dwell one hundred millions of people who have mighty kings, who have priests wiser than those of Egypt, who have ancient books, and skilled artisans. Those people know how to make woven stuffs, implements and vessels as beautiful as those of the Egyptians, and from time immemorial they have temples above ground and underground, which are grander, richer, and larger than the temples of Egypt."

"Speak on, speak on!" said the pharaoh. But it was impossible to learn from his face whether his curiosity was roused by the description, or he was indignant at the untruth of the Phoenician.

"In those countries," continued Hiram, "are pearls, precious stones, gold, copper; in those countries grow the most curious grains, flowers, and fruits; finally they have forests where a man might wander whole months among trees thicker than the columns in the temples of Egypt and taller than palms. The inhabitants of those countries are mild and simple. And, holiness, if Thou wouldst send thither two regiments on ships, Thou wouldst be able to win an area of land larger than Egypt, richer than the treasures of the labyrinth. If Thou permit, I will send thee to-morrow specimens of the woven stuffs of those regions, with bronzes and woods from them. I will send also two grains of a wondrous balsam from those countries; if a man swallows this balsam, it opens the gates of eternity before him, and he experiences the happiness which falls to divinities only."

"I beg thee to send specimens of the stuffs, and the utensils. As to the balsam, never mind! We shall enjoy eternity and the gods without it sufficiently after death."

"But far, very far east of Assyria," added Hiram, "lie still greater countries, countries which have two hundred millions of inhabitants."

"How easy millions come to you Phoenicians," laughed Ramses.

Hiram placed his baud on his heart.

"I swear," said he, "by the souls of my ancestors, and by my honor that I am telling truth."

The pharaoh was moved; such a great oath arrested his attention.

"Speak on speak!" said he.

"These last lands," continued the Phoenician, "are very wonderful. They are inhabited by people with yellow skin and sloping eyes. Those people have a sovereign who is called the Son of Heaven, and he governs through sages, who are not priests, however, and have not such power as priests have in Egypt. Still those people are like the Egyptians. They honor dead ancestors and take great care of their remains. They use writing which calls to mind the writing of Egyptian priests. But they wear long robes of such stuffs as are unknown in this country; they have sandals which are like little benches, and they cover their heads with pointed boxes. The roofs of their houses are pointed too at the top, and are turned up at the edges.

"Those uncommon people have a grain which is more plentiful than Egyptian wheat, and they make of it a drink which is stronger than wine. They have a plant the leaves of which give strength to the members, gladness to the mind, and which enables them even to dispense with sleep. They have paper which they adorn with many colored images, and they have clay which after it is burned shines like glass, and is as resonant as metal.

"Tomorrow, if Thou permit, holiness, I will send specimens of the works of these people."

"Thou art narrating wonders, Hiram. But I do not see the connection between those things and the canal which Thou wishest to dig."

"I will tell in brief," replied the Phoenician. "When there is a canal all the Phoenician and Egyptian fleets will sail on the Red Sea and beyond it; in the course of a couple of months they will reach those rich countries which by land are almost inaccessible.

"But dost Thou not see, holiness," continued he, with gleaming eyes, "the treasures which we shall find there? Gold, precious stones, grain, woods? I swear to thee, lord," added he with enthusiasm, "that gold will be cheaper than copper is now, wood will be cheaper than straw, and a slave cheaper than a cow. Only let us, lord, dig the canal, and hire fifty thousand of thy warriors."

Ramses, too, was excited.

"Fifty thousand warriors," repeated he. "But what will ye give me for this?"

"I have said already, holiness. One thousand talents yearly for the right to work, and five thousand for the workmen, to whom we will give food and wages."

"But ye will kill them with work?"

"May the gods forbid! There is no profit when workmen perish. Thy warriors, holiness, will not work more at the canal than today on roads and at fortresses but what glory for thee, lord! what income for the treasury, what profit for Egypt! The poorest earth-tiller will have a wooden cottage, some cattle, tools, and furniture, and as I live, a slave. No pharaoh has ever raised the state to such a height or carried out such a work.

"What will dead and useless pyramids be in comparison with a canal to facilitate the passage of treasures to the whole world?"

"Yes," added the pharaoh, "and fifty thousand warriors on the eastern boundary."

"Of course!" exclaimed Hiram. "In view of that force, which will cost thee nothing, holiness, Assyria will not dare to stretch a hand toward Phoenicia."

The project was so brilliant and promised such profit that Ramses XIII felt dazed by it. But he mastered himself.

"Hiram," said he, "Thou art making splendid promises. So splendid that I fear lest Thou art concealing behind them some less favorable outcome. Therefore I must think over this matter deeply and take counsel with the priests."

"They will never consent of themselves!" exclaimed the Phoenician. "Though may the gods forgive me the blasphemy I am certain that if today the highest power were in the hands of the priests they would summon us in a couple of months to make the canal for them."

Ramses looked with cold contempt at Hiram.

"Old man," said he, "leave me to care for the obedience of the priests, and do Thou present proofs that what Thou hast said is true. I should be a very poor sovereign were I unable to remove obstacles springing up between my will and the interests of Egypt."

"Thou art indeed a great sovereign, our lord," whispered Hiram, bending to the floor.

It was then late at night. The Phoenician took farewell of the pharaoh and left the palace with Tutmosis. The following day he sent through Dagon a box with specimens of wealth from the unknown countries.

The pharaoh found in it statues of gods, woven stuffs, rings from India, small morsels of opium, and in a second division handfuls of rice, leaves of tea, two porcelain cups ornamented with pictures, and a number of drawings made on paper with China ink and colors. He examined them with the greatest attention and confessed that those articles were new to him: the rice, the paper, the pictures of people with pointed hats and sloping eyes.

He had no doubt now that a new region existed which differed in every way from Egypt: in mountains, trees, houses, bridges, ships.

"And that country has existed for ages undoubtedly," thought he; "our priests know of it, they know of its wealth, but say nothing. Evidently they are traitors who wish to limit the power of the pharaoh and impoverish him so as to push him down from the height of the throne afterward.

"But O ye my ancestors and my heirs," said he in spirit, "I call you to witness that I will put a limit to these iniquities; I will elevate wisdom, but I will stamp out deceit, and I will give Egypt hours of rest from labor."

Thinking thus, he raised his eyes and beheld Dagon waiting for an answer.

"Thy box is very curious," said he to the banker, "but this is not what I asked of thee."

The Phoenician approached him on tiptoe and, kneeling before him, whispered,

"Deign holiness, to sign a treaty with the worthy Hiram, then Tyre and Sidon will place all their treasures at thy feet."

Ramses frowned. He was displeased by the insolence of the Phoenicians who dared to lay down conditions to him; so he answered coldly,

"I will reflect and give Hiram my answer. Thou mayst withdraw, Dagon."

After the Phoenician had gone, Ramses meditated again; a reaction began in him,

"Those hucksters," said he in his heart, "consider me as one of themselves, nay more, they dare to hold up to me a bag of gold from afar so as to extort a treaty! I know not that any of the pharaohs admitted them to such confidence! I must change. The men who fall on their faces before the envoys of Assar may not say to me, 'Sign and Thou wilt get!' Stupid Phoenician rats, who steal into the pharaoh's palace and look on it as their own den a moment later!"

The longer he thought over it the more precisely he recalled the bearing of Hiram and Dagon, the greater the auger that seized him,

"How dare they how dare they lay conditions down to me? Hei, Tutmosis!" cried he.

His favorite stood before him immediately.

"What dost Thou command, my lord?"

"Send some one of the younger officers to Dagon to inform him that he has ceased to be my banker. He is too stupid for such a lofty position."

"But to whom dost Thou predestine the honor, holiness?"

"I know not at the moment. It will be necessary to find some one among Egyptian or Greek merchants. In the last resort we will turn to the priests."

Information of this resolve went through all the palaces, and before an hour it had reached Memphis. Throughout the whole city people said that the Phoenicians were in disfavor with the pharaoh. Towards evening the Egyptians had begun to break into the shops of the hated foreigners.

The priests drew a breath of relief. Herhor even made a visit to holy Mefres and said to him,

"My heart felt that our lord would turn from those unbelievers who are drinking the blood of the people. I think that it is proper for us to show him gratitude."

"And perhaps open the doors to our treasures?" asked Mefres, rudely. "Hasten not, worthiness, I have divined this young man woe to us if ever we let him get the upper hand."

"But if he has broken with the Phoenicians?"

"He will gain by that; for he will not pay his debts to them."

"In my opinion," said Herhor, after some thought, "now is the moment in which we can regain the favor of this youthful pharaoh. He is hasty in anger, but he knows how to be grateful. I have experienced that.

"Every word is an error," interrupted the stubborn Mefres. "First of all, this prince is not the pharaoh yet, for he has not been crowned in a temple. Second, he will never be a real pharaoh, since through contempt he will never be ordained a high priest. And finally, we do not need his favor, while he needs the favor of the gods, whom he insults at every step he makes."

Mefres, who had been panting from anger, stopped and began anew,

"He spent a month in the temple of Hator, he listened to the highest wisdom, and immediately afterward betook himself to the Phoenicians. What do I say? He visited the idol house of Astarte and took thence a priestess an offence against all religions. After that he reviled my piety, in public; conspired with such frivolous minds as his own, and with the aid of Phoenicians stole state secrets. And when he ascended the throne I speak incorrectly, when he had barely stood on the first step of the throne, he tried to make the priests odious; he disturbed the earth-tillers and the warriors, and renewed vows with his friends the Phoenicians.

"Dost thou, worthy Herhor, forget all this? And if Thou remember, dost Thou not understand the dangers which threaten us from this milksop? Still he has under his hand the rudder of the ship of state, which he pushes in among rocks and eddies. Who will assure me that this madman, who yesterday summoned to his presence the Phoenicians, but quarreled with them today, will not do something to-morrow which will expose Egypt to destruction?"

"And therefore, what?" inquired Herhor, looking into his eyes quickly.

"This we have no reason to show him gratitude, which would really be weakness. But since he wants money at once, we will not give him money."

"But but then what?" inquired Herhor.

"Afterward he will govern the state and increase the army without money," answered the irritated Mefres.

"But if his famished army wants to rob temples?"

"Ha! ha! ha!" burst out Mefres, but suddenly he grew serious and bowing said in an ironical tone,

"That pertains to thee, worthiness. A man who for so many years has directed the state should prepare for such dangers."

"Let us suppose," said Herhor, slowly, "that I can find means against dangers to the state. But canst thou, worthiness, who art the senior high priest, provide against insults to the priestly order and the temples?"

They looked each other in the eyes for a moment.

"Dost Thou inquire whether I can? Whether I can? I need make no effort. The gods have placed in my hands a thunderbolt which will destroy every author of sacrilege."

"Pst!" whispered Herhor. "Let that take place."

"With the consent or without the consent of the supreme council of priests," added Mefres. "When a boat is overturned there is no time to discuss with the oarsmen."

They parted in a gloomy state of mind. That same day in the evening the Pharaoh summoned them.

They came at the appointed time, each high priest separately. Each made a profound obeisance to his lord, and each stood in a separate corner without looking at the other.

"Have they quarreled?" thought Ramses? "No harm in that!"

A moment later the holy Sem and the prophet Pentuer came in. Then Ramses sat on an elevation, indicated to the priests stools in front of him, and said,

"Holy fathers! I have not summoned you thus far to counsel because all my orders related to military questions exclusively."

"Thou hadst the right, holiness, not to call us," put in Herhor.

"I have done what I was able in such a short time to strengthen the defensive power of the state. I have formed two new schools for officers and I have restored five regiments."

"Thou hadst the right, lord," answered Mefres.

"Of other military reforms I do not speak, since those questions do not concern you, holy people."

"Thou art right," said Mefres and Herhor together.

"But there is another question," continued the pharaoh, satisfied with the assent of the two dignitaries from whom he had expected opposition. "The funeral day of my divine father is approaching, but the treasury does not possess sufficient funds."

Mefres rose from his stool.

"Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses," said he, "was a just lord who for many years assured peace to his people, and praise to the gods. Permit, holiness, that the funeral of this pious pharaoh be performed at the expense of the temples."

Ramses XIII was astonished and was moved by the homage rendered his father. He was silent for a while as if unable to find an answer; at last he replied,

"I am very thankful to you for the honor shown my father, who is equal to the gods. I permit the funeral, and once more I thank you greatly."

He stopped, rested his head on his hand and meditated, as if struggling with himself. Suddenly he raised his head; his face was animated, his eyes were gleaming.

"I am moved," said he, "by this proof of your good-will. If the memory of my father is so dear to you ye cannot have ill-will toward me."

"Thou hast no doubt, I think, holiness, touching our goodwill?" said the high priest Sem.

"Thou art speaking truth," continued the pharaoh. "I suspected you unjustly of prejudice toward me. I wish to correct my suspicion; I will be sincere with you."

"May the gods bless thee, holiness," said Herhor.

"I will be sincere. My divine father, because of age, illness, and perhaps priestly occupations, could not devote so much time to affairs of state as I can. I am young, in health, free, hence I wish to rule, myself, and will rule. As a leader must direct his army on his own responsibility and according to his own plan, so shall I direct the state. This is my express will and I shall not draw back from it.

"But I understand that even were I the most experienced I could not succeed without faithful servants and wise counselors. Therefore I shall ask your advice sometimes on various questions."

"To this end we constitute the supreme council near thy throne," remarked Herhor.

"I shall use," continued Ramses with animation, "your services immediately, even from this moment."

"Command, lord," said Herhor.

"I wish to improve the condition of the Egyptian people. But since in such affairs over-hasty action may only bring injury, I give them at first a small thing: After six days' labor the seventh for rest."

"Such was it during the reigns of the eighteenth dynasty. That law is as old as Egypt itself," said Pentuer.

"Rest every seventh day will give fifty days to each laborer during a year, or it will take from his lord fifty drachma. On a million of laborers the state will lose ten thousand talents yearly," said Mefres. "We have calculated that in the temples."

"That is true," answered Pentuer, quickly, "but the losses will be during the first year only, for when the people increase in strength by rest they will recover all and more in the following years."

"That is true," answered Mefres, "but in every case it is necessary to have ten thousand talents for that first year. I think even that twenty thousand talents would not be amiss."

"Thou art right, worthy Mefres," said the pharaoh. "In view of the changes which I wish to introduce in my state twenty thousand, and even thirty thousand talents would not be too great a sum; therefore," added he quickly, "I shall ask assistance of you holy men."

"We are ready to support every measure of thy holiness with prayers and processions," said Mefres.

"Very good; pray and encourage the people to pray. But besides that give the state thirty thousand talents," answered the pharaoh.

The high priests were silent; Ramses waited a while, then turned to Herhor,

"Thou art silent, worthiness."

"Thou hast said thyself, O sovereign, that the treasury has no means, even to bury Osiris-Mer-Amen-Ramses. I cannot even divine, therefore, where we could get thirty thousand talents."

"But the treasury of the labyrinth."

"That is a treasury of the gods, to be touched only at a moment when the state is in supreme need," replied Mefres.

Ramses XIII boiled up with anger.

"If earth-tillers do not need this sum, I do," said he, striking his fist on the arm of the chair.

"Holiness," replied Mefres, "Thou canst in the course of a year receive more than thirty thousand talents, and Egypt twice as much."

"How?"

"Very simply. Give command, sovereign, to expel the Phoenicians from Egypt."

It seemed that the pharaoh would rush at the insolent high priest; he grew pale, his lips quivered, his eyes stared. But he restrained himself in one moment, and said, in a tone of wonderful calmness,

"Well, sufficient. If ye are able to give only such counsels I shall get on without them. The Phoenicians have our signatures that we will pay them our debts faithfully. Has this occurred to thee, Mefres?"

"Pardon, holiness, but at that moment other thoughts occupied me. Thy ancestors, not on papyrus, but on bronze and stone carved out the statement that the gifts made by them to the gods and the temples belonged and would belong forever to the gods and the temples."

"And to you priests," added the pharaoh, sneeringly.

"As much to us," replied the haughty high priest, "as the state belongs to thee, sovereign. We guard and increase those treasures; but we have not the right to spend them."

The pharaoh left the hall panting with anger, and went to his own cabinet. His position was presented to him with terrible distinctness. Of the hatred of the priests toward him he had no doubt any longer. Those were the same dignitaries who, giddy with pride, had the past year refused him the corps of Memphis, and who had made him viceroy only when it seemed to them that he had performed an act of penitence by withdrawing from the palace the very same who watched every movement of his, made reports regarding him, but did not tell him, the heir to the throne, even of the treaty with Assar, the very same dignitaries who had employed deceit against him in the temple of Hator, and who at the Soda Lakes slaughtered prisoners to whom he had promised freedom.

The pharaoh recalled the obeisances of Herhor, the looks of Mefres, and the tones of voice which both used. Beneath the show of good-will, their pride and their contempt for him appeared each moment. He asks for money, they promise prayers. Nay! they dare to tell him that he is not sole ruler in the land of Egypt.

The young sovereign laughed in spite of himself, for he called to mind the hired herdsmen who told the owner of the flock that he had no right to do what he liked with it. Besides the ridiculous aspect there was in the case a point which was terrible. The treasury contained perhaps a thousand talents which, according to the recent rate of outlay would last from seven to ten days. And then what? How would the officials, the servants, and above all how would the army, exist, not only without pay, but without sustenance?

The high priests knew this position of the pharaoh if they did not hasten to assist him they wished to ruin him, and to ruin him in the course of a few days, even before the funeral of his father.

Ramses recalled a certain event of his childhood.

He was at a school of the priests when, on the festival of the goddess Mut, after various amusements they introduced the most famous buffoon in Egypt. This artist represented an unfortunate hero: when he commanded he was not obeyed, his anger was answered with laughter, and when, to punish those who made sport of him, he seized an axe, the axe broke in his hands. At last they let out a lion at him and when the defenseless hero began to flee it turned out that not a lion was chasing him, but a pig in a lion's skin.

The pupils and the teachers laughed at those adventures till the tears came; but the little prince sat gloomily; he was sorry for the man who was eager for great things but fell covered with ridicule.

That scene and the feelings which he experienced then were revived in the memory of the pharaoh. "They want to make me like that buffoon," thought he. Despair seized him, for he felt that his power would end when the last talent was issued, and with his power his life also.

But here came a certain revulsion. He halted in the middle of the room and thought,

"What can happen to me? Nothing save death. I will go to my glorious ancestors, to Ramses the Great But then, I could not tell them that I died without defending myself. After the misfortunes of this earthly life eternal shame would meet me. How was it to end? He, the conqueror at the Soda Lakes, to yield before a handful of deceivers against whom one Asiatic regiment would not have much trouble? For the reason, then, that Mefres and Herhor wish to rule Egypt and the pharaoh, his troops must suffer hunger, and a million men are not to receive rest from labor? But did not his ancestors rear these temples. Did they not fill them with spoils? And who won the battles? The priests, or the warriors? Who, then, had a right to the treasures, the priests, or the pharaoh and his army?"

Ramses shrugged his shoulders and summoned Tutmosis. Though it was late at night the favorite came to him straightway.

"Dost Thou know," asked the pharaoh, "that the priests have refused me a loan, though the treasury is empty?"

Tutmosis straightened himself, and asked,

"Wilt Thou command to take them to prison?"

"Wouldst thou?"

"There is not an officer in Egypt who would hesitate to carry out an order from our lord and leader."

"In that case," said the pharaoh, deliberately, "there is no need to imprison any one. I have too much power on my side and too much contempt for the priesthood. A man does not put into a box bound with iron the carrion which he meets on the highway; he merely passes around it."

"But a hyena is confined in a cage," whispered Tutmosis.

"It is too early yet. I must be gracious to those men, at least till my father is buried or they might commit some indignity on his revered mummy, and destroy his spirit. But go tomorrow to Hiram and tell him to send me that priest of whom we have spoken."

"That will be done. But I must remind thee, holiness, that today people attacked Phoenician houses in Memphis."

"Oho! That was not needed."

"It seems to me, too," continued Tutmosis, "that since Thou hast commanded Pentuer to investigate the condition of earth-tillers and laborers the priests are exciting the nomarchs and nobles. They say that it is thy wish to ruin the nobility for the sake of the people."

"But do the nobles believe that?"

"There are some who believe, but there are others who say directly that it is an intrigue of the priests against the pharaoh."

"But if I wish indeed to improve the condition of earth-tillers?"

"Thou wilt do, lord, that which pleases thee," answered Tutmosis.

"Oh, I understand my position!" exclaimed Ramses. "Be at rest, and tell the nobility that not only will they lose nothing in carrying out my orders, but their own condition will be improved notably. The wealth of Egypt must be taken at last from the hands of the unworthy and given to faithful servants."

The pharaoh dismissed his adjutant and went to rest satisfied. His temporary despair seemed to him laughable.

About noon of the following day it was announced that a deputation of Phoenician merchants had come to his holiness.

"Do they wish to complain of the attack on their houses?" inquired the pharaoh.

"No," replied the adjutant, "they wish to offer thee homage."

In fact a number of Phoenicians, under the leadership of Rabsun, declared that, according to ancient custom they had made bold to lay an insignificant gift at the feet of the sovereign who gave life to them and security to their property.

Then they placed on the tables gold plates, chains, and goblets filled with jewels.

After that, Rabsun placed on the steps of the throne a tray with the papyrus by which the Phoenicians bound themselves to give all things necessary for the army to the amount of two thousand talents.

That was a considerable gift, since all that the Phoenicians had brought represented a sum of three thousand talents.

The pharaoh answered the faithful merchants very graciously, and promised protection. He dismissed them in happiness.

Ramses XIII drew a breath of relief: bankruptcy of the treasury, and therefore the need of using violent measures against the priests was deferred ten days longer.

In the evening, again, under the guardianship of Tutmosis, the worthy Hiram stood in the cabinet of his holiness. This time he did not complain of weariness, but he fell on his face and cursed the stupid Dagon.

"I have learned," said he, "that that mangy fellow dared to remind thee, holiness, of our talk concerning the canal to the Red Sea. May he perish! May the leprosy devour him! May his children become swineherds and his grandchildren Hebrews. But do thou, sovereign, only command, and whatever wealth Phoenicia has she will lay at thy feet without bond or treaty. Are we Assyrians or priests," added he in a whisper, "that one word of such a mighty potentate should not suffice us?"

"But if I should require a really large sum?"

"Such as?"

"For example, thirty thousand talents."

"Immediately?"

"No, in the course of a year."

"Thou wilt have it, holiness," answered Hiram, without hesitation.

The pharaoh was astonished at this liberality.

"But must I give you a pledge?"

"Only for form's sake," replied the Phoenician. "Give us, holiness, the quarries in pledge, so as not to rouse the suspicions of priests. Were it not for them, Thou wouldst have all Phoenicia without pledge or paper."

"But the canal? Am I to sign a treaty at once?" asked Ramses.

"Not at all. Thou wilt make, O holiness, a treaty when it pleases thee."

It seemed to the pharaoh that he was uplifted in the air. At that moment it seemed to him that he had tasted for the first time the sweetness of regal power, and tasted it, thanks to the Phoenicians.

"Hiram," said he, controlling himself no longer, "I give thee permission this day to dig a canal which shall join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean."

The old man fell at the feet of the pharaoh.

"Thou art the greatest sovereign ever seen on earth," said he.

"For the time Thou art not permitted to speak of this to any one, because the enemies of my glory are watching. But that Thou shouldst feel certain, I give thee this from my own finger."

He took from his finger a ring adorned with a magic stone on which was engraved the name Horns, and put it on the finger of the Phoenician.

"The property of all Phoenicia is at thy command," said Hiram, moved profoundly. "Thou wilt accomplish a work which will herald thy name till the sun quenches."

The pharaoh pressed Hiram's iron-gray head and commanded him to sit down before him.

"And so we are allies," said he, after a while, "and I hope that from this will rise prosperity for Egypt and Phoenicia."

"For the whole world," added Hiram.

"But tell me, prince, whence hast Thou such confidence in me?"

"I know thy noble character, holiness. If thou, sovereign, wert not a pharaoh, in a few years Thou wouldst become the most renowned of Phoenician merchants and the chief of our council."

"Let us suppose that," replied Ramses. "But I, to keep my promises, must first bend the priests. That is a struggle the issue of which is uncertain."

Hiram smiled.

"Lord," said he, "if we were so insignificant as to abandon thee today when thy treasury is empty, and thy enemies are insolent, Thou wouldst lose the battle. For a man deprived of means loses daring easily; from an impoverished king his armies turn away as well as his dignitaries and his subjects. But if thou, sovereign, have our gold and our agents, with thy army and thy generals Thou wilt have as much trouble with the priests as an elephant with a scorpion. Thou wilt barely set thy foot on them and they will be crushed beneath it. But this is not my affair. The high priest Samentu is waiting in the garden, he whom Thou hast summoned. I withdraw; it is his hour. But I refuse not the money. Command me to the extent of thirty thousand talents."

He fell on his face again and then withdrew, promising that Samentu would present himself straightway.

In half an hour the high priest appeared. As became one who honored Set he did not shave his red beard and shaggy hair; he had a severe face, but eyes full of intellect. He bowed without excessive humility and met the soul-piercing gaze of the pharaoh with calmness.

"Be seated," said the pharaoh.

The high priest sat on the floor.

"Thou pleasest me," said Ramses. "Thou hast the bearing and the face of a Hyksos, and they are the most valiant troops in my army." Then he inquired, on a sudden,

"Art Thou the man who informed Hiram of the treaty of our priests with Assyria?"

"I am," replied Samentu, without dropping his eyes.

"Didst Thou share in that iniquity?"

"I did not. I overheard the conditions. In the temples, as in thy palaces, holiness, the walls are honeycombed with passages through which it is possible to hear on the summit of pylons what is said in the cellars."

"And from subterranean places it is possible to converse with persons in upper chambers?" asked the pharaoh.

"And imitate voices from the gods," added the priest seriously.

The pharaoh smiled. Then the supposition was correct that it was not the spirit of his father, but priests who spoke to him and to his mother.

"Why didst Thou confide to Phoenicians a great secret of the state?" inquired Ramses.

"Because I wished to prevent a shameful treaty which was as harmful to us as to Phoenicia."

"Thou mightst have forewarned some Egyptian dignitary."

"Whom?" inquired the priest. "Men who were powerless before Herhor; or who would complain of me to him and expose me to death and tortures? I confided it to Hiram, for he meets dignitaries of ours whom I never see."

"But why did Herhor and Mefres conclude such a treaty?" inquired Ramses.

"In my opinion, they are men of weak heads whom Beroes, the great Chaldean priest, frightened. He told them that for ten years evil fates would threaten Egypt; that if we began war with Assyria during that time we should be defeated."

"And did they believe him?"

"Beroes, it seems, showed them wonders. He was even borne above the earth. Beyond doubt that is wonderful; but I cannot understand why we should lose Phoenicia because Beroes can fly above the earth."

"Then Thou dost not believe in miracles?"

"It depends upon what they are," replied Samentu. "It seems that Beroes does perform unusual things; but our priests merely deceive people as well as rulers."

"Thou hast a hatred for the priestly order?"

"Well, they cannot endure me, and what is worse they insult me under pretext that I am a minister of Set. Meanwhile, what do I care for gods whose hands and feet must be moved by strings. Or priests who pretend to be abstemious and devout, but have ten wives, spend some tens of talents yearly, steal the offerings placed on altars, and are little wiser than pupils of a higher school."

"But dost Thou take presents from Phoenicians?"'

"From whom should I take them? The Phoenicians are the only men who really honor Set; they fear lest he might wreck their ships. With us the poor alone revere him. Were I restricted to their offerings I should die of hunger, and my children also."

The pharaoh thought that this priest was not a bad man, though he had betrayed a temple secret. And moreover, he seemed wise and he spoke truth.

"Hast Thou heard anything," inquired Ramses again, "of a canal which is to join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean?"

"I know of that affair. Our engineers have been developing the project for some centuries."

"But why has it not been carried out ere this time?"

"Because the priests are afraid that strangers would come who might undermine our religion, and with it the priestly income."

"Is there truth in what Hiram says of people living in the distant East?"

"Perfect truth. We know of them for a long time, and no ten years pass that we do not receive from those countries products, precious stones, or pictures."

The pharaoh meditated again, and asked suddenly,

"Wilt Thou serve me faithfully if I make thee my counselor?"

"I will serve thee, holiness, with life and death. But were I to become thy counselor, the priests, who hate me, would be indignant."

"Dost Thou not think it possible to overthrow them?"

"It is possible and very easy."

"What would thy plan be, if I had to free myself of them?"

"To obtain possession of the treasures in the labyrinth."

"Couldst Thou go to it?"

"I have many indications; the rest I can discover, for I know where to search for them."

"What further?" inquired the pharaoh.

"It would be necessary to bring an action against Herhor and Mefres for treason, and for secret relations with Assyria."

"But the proofs?"

"We should find them with the help of the Phoenicians."

"Would no danger come of that to Egypt?"

"None. Four hundred years ago the pharaoh, Amenhotep IV. overturned the power of priests by establishing the faith in one god, Re Harmachis. It is understandable that in those conditions he took treasures from the temples of the other gods. And at that time neither the people, nor the army, nor the nobility took part with the priesthood. What would the case be today when the old faith is greatly weakened?"

"Who assisted Amenhotep?" inquired Ramses.

"A simple priest, Ey."

"But who, on the death of Amenhotep, became his heir?" asked Ramses, looking quickly into the eyes of the priest.

Samentu answered, calmly,

"Events show that Amenhotep was incompetent, more occupied in honoring Re than in governing Egypt."

"Indeed, Thou art a real sage!" said Ramses.

"At thy service, holiness."

"I appoint thee my counselor," said the pharaoh. "In that case Thou mayst visit me in secret, and Thou wilt dwell with me."

"Pardon, lord, but until the members of the supreme council are in prison for negotiating with enemies of Egypt, my presence in the palace would bring more harm than profit. So I will serve thee, holiness, and advise, but in secret."

"And wilt Thou find the way to the treasure in the labyrinth?"

"I hope, lord, that before Thou returnest from Thebes, I shall succeed in this matter. But when we transfer the treasure to thy palace, when the court condemns Herhor and Mefres whom Thou mayst pardon afterward, with permission, I will appear openly and cease to be the priest of Set, who only frightens people and turns them from me."

"And dost Thou think that everything will go well?"

"I pledge my life on it!" cried the priest. "The people thee, holiness, so it is easy to influence them against traitorous dignitaries. The army obeys thee as no army has obeyed a pharaoh since Ramses the Great. Who will oppose, then? In addition, holiness, Thou hast the Phoenicians behind thee, and money, the greatest power on earth."

When Samentu took farewell, the pharaoh permitted him to kiss his feet, and gave him a heavy gold chain and a bracelet ornamented with sapphires. Not every dignitary received such favor after long years of service. The visit and Samentu's promises filled the pharaoh's heart with new hope.

What if he should succeed in getting the treasure of the labyrinth! For a small part of it he might free the nobles from Phoenician debts, improve the lot of the laborers and redeem the mortgaged property of the court.

And with what edifices might the state be enriched!

Hence the treasure of this labyrinth might remove all the pharaoh's troubles. For what was the result of a great loan from the Phoenicians? It would be necessary to pay a loan some time, and, sooner or later, mortgage the rest of the pharaoh's property. That was merely to defer ruin, not avoid it.