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But the prince commanded the musicians and dancers to depart, and taking Tutmosis to the garden, he said, "Of course my mother may she live through eternity! sent thee to separate me from the Jewess? Tell her worthiness that were Herhor to become not merely viceroy, but the son of my father, I should do that which pleases me. I know how to do it.
"Just because my grandfather was a pharaoh, and my father is a pharaoh also, I cannot endure the rule of Herhor." "He was brought to his position by thy grandfather, the holy Amenhotep." "And I will cast him down from it." The mother shrugged her shoulders. "And it is thou," answered she, with sadness, "who wishest to lead a corps? But Thou art a spoiled girl, not a man and a leader."
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."
"But what shall we do?" asked the judge after a while. "The pharaoh," said Herhor, "wishes the people to attack the temple on the 23d. We must make them attack us on the 20th of Paofi." "The gods live through eternity!" cried the nomarch of Aa, raising his hands. "But why should we bring misfortune on our heads, and besides two days earlier?"
Thou," he indicated the youngest, "art Pentuer, the second prophet in the temple of Amon, and the adviser of Herhor." "Thou art undoubtedly Beroes, the high priest and sage of Babylon, whose coming was announced to us a year ago," answered Mefres. "Thou hast told truth," said the Chaldean. He embraced them in turn, and they inclined before him.
Herhor is wise: he knows that Egypt in case of war would need half a million of warriors; he knows that those troops need training, and still he has decreased the number of the regiments. "The chief treasurer also is wise, but it seems to him quite in order that all the treasure of the pharaohs should go to the labyrinth. "Finally here is Pentuer. What a strange person he is!
The severe and wise priests turned attention to the madness of the upper classes; but they were mistaken in estimating the cause of it, and the holy Mentezufis, who sent a report every few days to Herhor. stated that the heir, wearied by religious practices in the temple, was amusing himself to madness, and with him the entire aristocracy.
"'Why is that? inquired Herhor; and this is what an investigation discovered: During the nineteenth dynasty there were in the district about one hundred officials, and these received each one thousand drachmas yearly salary. Today in that same district, though the people have decreased, there are more than two hundred officials who receive two thousand five hundred drachmas yearly.
"Do not mention that Jewess to me," replied Ramses. "But dost Thou know what she did with my son?" "I know; but that, it seems to me, was not her fault. I heard in Memphis that thy worthy mother and the worthy minister Herhor made thy son a Jew, so that he might rule over Israelites sometime." "But the Israelites have no king, only priests and judges," interrupted the prince.
"Refreshments and affairs of state are awaiting thee, holiness," replied Herhor. "After that I may rest," said the pharaoh. "Where are the remains of his holiness, my father?" "Given to the embalmers," whispered Herhor. Tears filled the pharaoh's eyes, and his mouth quivered, but he restrained himself and looked down in silence.
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