"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 G.o.ds 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 Phnicians?"

"From whom should I take them? The Phnicians 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 Rameses again, "of a ca.n.a.l 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 pa.s.s 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 counsellor?"

"I will serve thee, holiness, with life and death. But were I to become thy counsellor, 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Statue of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen]

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

"But the proofs?"

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

"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 G.o.d, Re Harmachis. It is understandable that in those conditions he took treasures from the temples of the other G.o.ds. And at that time neither the people, nor the army, nor the n.o.bility took part with the priesthood. What would the case be to-day when the old faith is greatly weakened?"

"Who a.s.sisted Amenhotep?" inquired Rameses.

"A simple priest, Ey."

"But who, on the death of Amenhotep, became his heir?" asked Rameses, 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 Rameses.

"At thy service, holiness."

"I appoint thee my counsellor," 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 love thee, holiness, so it is easy to influence them against traitorous dignitaries. The army obeys thee as no army has obeyed a pharaoh since Rameses the Great. Who will oppose, then? In addition, holiness, thou hast the Phnicians 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 n.o.bles from Phnician 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 Phnicians? 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.

CHAPTER LVI

In the middle of the month Famenut (January) spring began. All Egypt was green with growing wheat. On black patches of land crowds of men were sowing lupines, beans, and barley. In the air was the odor of orange blossoms. The water had fallen greatly and new bits of land were laid bare day by day.