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Those nearest him gave out a cry of fear, whereupon the farther ranks, not seeing what had happened, answered with laughter and curses. "Break down the gate!" was heard from the end of the crowd, and a volley of stones flew in the direction of Herhor and his retinue. Herhor raised both hands, and when the crowd had grown silent again the high priest shouted,
Ye will see the might of the gods and receive your reward." The nomarchs took farewell of the high priests, not trying even to hide their own grief and alarm. Only Herhor and Mefres remained. After a long silence Herhor said, "Yes, that Lykon was good as long as he counterfeited the maniac. But that it should be possible to show him instead of Ramses."
"Is that true?" cried the queen. "How dost Thou know?" "It is not known to his worthiness the heir, or even to Sarah," said Herhor, smiling. "We must know everything. This secret, however, was not difficult to get at. With Sarah is her relative Tafet, an incomparable gossip." "Have they summoned a physician already?"
Either my royal foot will be planted on your necks or I shall perish." For two days the revered mummy of Ramses XII remained in the temple of Amon, in a place so sacred that even high priests might not enter, save only Herhor and Mefres. Before the deceased only one lamp was burning, the flame of which, nourished in a miraculous manner, was never extinguished.
For instance, the worthy Herhor did this to increase the glory and power of thy dynasty. And he did it with the knowledge of thy mother." "But why does Mefres interfere? His single duty is to care for the temple, not influence the fate of the pharaoh's descendants." "Mefres is an old man growing whimsical.
The most worthy ruler took farewell of his heir very graciously; but the direction of state affairs during his absence he left with Herhor. Ramses felt this proof of want of confidence so greatly that for three days he took no food and did not leave his villa; he only wept.
"Are troops to enter the temples?" exclaimed the nomarch of Sebes. "They have such an order at least for the 23d," replied Herhor. "And dost Thou speak of this, worthiness, quietly?" inquired the nomarch of Ament. Herhor shrugged his shoulders, while the nomarchs exchanged glances. "I do not understand this," said the nomarch of Aa, almost in anger.
"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.
The pharaoh fell into anger again. "What?" cried he. "Then they think really of seizing Phoenicia! And do they suppose that I will sign the infamy of my reign? Evil spirits have seized all of you!" The audience was ended. Herhor fell on his face this time, but while returning from his lord he considered in his heart, "His holiness has heard the report, hence he does not reject my services.
"Dost Thou wish that a priest should make light of religion in the presence of the army?" "My father," whispered Ramses, with quivering voice, "to avoid spoiling the journey of the beetles a canal was destroyed, and a man was killed." "That man raised his own hands on himself." "But that was the fault of Herhor."
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