"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 a.s.sure me that this madman, who yesterday summoned to his presence the Phnicians, but quarrelled with them to-day, 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 grat.i.tude, 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 G.o.ds 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 quarrelled?" thought Rameses? "No harm in that!"

A moment later the holy Sem and the prophet Pentuer came in. Then Rameses 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 a.s.sent 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-Rameses," said he, "was a just lord who for many years a.s.sured peace to his people, and praise to the G.o.ds. Permit, holiness, that the funeral of this pious pharaoh be performed at the expense of the temples."

Rameses 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 G.o.ds. 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 good-will?" 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 G.o.ds 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 counsellors. Therefore I shall ask your advice sometimes on various questions."

"To this end we const.i.tute the supreme council near thy throne,"

remarked Herhor.

"I shall use," continued Rameses 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 a.s.sistance 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; Rameses 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-Rameses. I cannot even divine, therefore, where we could get thirty thousand talents."