The prince was astonished.

"How! my father seriously ill, the priests are praying for him, but tell me nothing?"

"They say that the illness of his holiness may last a year."

"Oh, thou hearest fables and art disturbing me. Better tell me about the Phnicians."

"I have heard," said Tutmosis, "only what every one has heard,--that while in the temple thou wert convinced of the harm done by Phnicians, and didst bind thyself to expel them."

"In the temple?" repeated the heir. "But who knows what that is of which I convinced myself in the temple, and what I decided to do?"

Tutmosis shrugged his shoulders, and was silent.

"Was there treason, too, in the temple?" thought the prince. "Summon Dagon in every case," said he, aloud. "I must know the source of these lies, and by the G.o.ds, I will end them."

"Thou wilt do well, for all Egypt is frightened. Even to-day there is no one to lend money, and if those reports continue all commerce will cease. Our aristocracy have fallen into trouble from which none see the issue, and even thy court is in want. A month hence the same thing may happen in the palace of his holiness--"

"Silence!" interrupted the prince, "and call Dagon this moment."

Tutmosis ran out, but the banker appeared no earlier than evening.

Around a white mantle he wore a black belt.

"Hast thou gone mad?" cried the heir, at sight of this. "I will drive off thy sadness immediately. I need a hundred talents at once. Go, and show thyself not till thou bring them."

The banker covered his face and wept.

"What does this mean?" asked the prince, quickly.

"Lord," exclaimed Dagon, as he fell on his knees, "seize all my property, sell me and my family. Take everything, even our lives--but a hundred talents--where could I find wealth like that? Neither in Egypt nor Phnicia," continued he, sobbing.

"Set has seized thee, O Dagon," laughed the heir. "Couldst thou believe that I thought of expelling thy Phnicians?"

The banker fell at the prince's feet a second time.

"I know nothing--I am a common merchant, and thy slave--as many days as there are between the new and the full moon would suffice to make dust of me and spittle of my property."

"But explain what this means," said the prince, again impatient.

"I cannot explain anything, and even were I able I have a great seal on my lips--I do nothing now but pray and lament."

"Do the Phnicians pray also?" thought the prince.

"Unable to render any service," continued Dagon, "I will give good counsel at least. There is here in Pi-Bast a renowned Syrian, Prince Hiram, an old man, wise and tremendously wealthy. Summon him, Erpatr, ask of him a hundred talents; perhaps he will be able to gratify thee."

Since Rameses could get no explanations from the banker, he dismissed him, and promised to send an emba.s.sy to Hiram.

CHAPTER x.x.x

Next day Tutmosis, with a great suite of officers and attendants, paid a visit to the Phnician prince, and invited him to the viceroy.

In the afternoon Hiram appeared before the palace in a simple litter borne by eight poor Egyptians to whom he gave alms. He was surrounded by the most notable Phnician merchants, and that same throng of people who stood before his house daily.

Rameses greeted with a certain astonishment the old man out of whose eyes wisdom was gazing and in whose whole bearing there was dignity.

He bowed gravely before the viceroy, and raising his hands above his head, p.r.o.nounced a short blessing. Those present were deeply affected.

When the viceroy indicated an armchair and commanded his courtiers to withdraw, Hiram said,--

"Yesterday thy servant Dagon informed me that the prince needs a hundred talents. I sent out my couriers at once to Sabne-Chetam, Sethroe, Pi-Uto, and other cities where there are Phnician ships, asking them to land all their goods. I think that in a day or two thou wilt receive this small sum--"

"Small!" interrupted Rameses, with a smile. "Thou art happy if thou call a hundred talents a small sum."

Hiram nodded.

"Thy grandfather, worthiness," said he, after a while, "the eternally living Rameses-sa-Ptah, honored me with his friendship; I know also his holiness, thy father--may he live through eternity!--and I will even try to lay before him my homage, if I be permitted."

"Whence could a doubt arise?" interrupted the prince.

"There are persons," replied the guest, "who admit some to the face of the pharaoh and refuse others--but never mind them. Thou art not to blame for this; hence I venture to lay before thee one question, as an old friend of thy father and his father."

"I am listening."

"What means it," asked Hiram, slowly, "that the heir to the throne and a viceroy must borrow a hundred talents when more than a hundred thousand are due Egypt?"

"Whence?" cried Rameses.

"From the tribute of Asiatic peoples. Phnicia owes five thousand; well, Phnicia will pay, I guarantee that, unless some events happen.

But, besides, Israel owes three thousand, the Philistines and the Moabites each two thousand, the Hitt.i.tes thirty thousand. Finally, I do not remember details, but I know that the total reaches a hundred and three or a hundred and five thousand talents."

Rameses gnawed his lips, but on his vivacious countenance helpless anger was evident. He dropped his eyes and was silent.

"It is true," said Hiram, on a sudden, and looking sharply at the viceroy. "Poor Phnicia--but also Egypt."

"What dost thou say?" asked the prince, frowning. "I understand not thy questions."

"Prince, thou knowest what it is of which I speak, since thou dost not answer my question," replied Hiram; and he rose as if to withdraw.

"Still, I withdraw not my promise. Thou wilt receive a hundred talents."

He made a low bow, but the viceroy forced him to sit down again.

"Thou art hiding something," said Rameses, in a voice in which offence was evident. "I would hear thee explain what danger threatens Egypt or Phnicia."

"Hast thou not heard?" asked Hiram, with hesitation.

"I know nothing. I have pa.s.sed more than a month in the temple."