CHAPTER LXI_The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt（#35499）

While Pentuer was going around the country and choosing out delegates,

Rameses XIII. tarried in Thebes, arranging the marriage of his

favorite, Tutmosis.

First of all, the ruler of two worlds, surrounded by a grand retinue,

drove in a golden chariot to the palace of the most worthy Antefa.

This magnate hurried forth to meet his sovereign before the gate,

and, taking the costly sandals from his feet he knelt and assisted

Rameses to alight from the chariot.

In return for this homage the pharaoh gave him his hand to kiss, and

declared that thenceforth Antefa was his friend, and might enter even

the throne hall in sandals.

When they were in an immense chamber of Antefa's palace the sovereign

said before the whole retinue,--

"I know, worthy Antefa, that as thy revered ancestors occupy the most

beautiful of tombs, thou, their descendant, art foremost among

nomarchs in Egypt. To thee it is known surely that in my court and

army, as in my heart, the first place is held by Tutmosis, chief of

the guard, and my favorite.

"According to the opinion of sages the rich man does ill who does not

put his most precious jewel into the most beautiful setting. And,

since thy family is most precious to me, and Tutmosis is most dear, I

have conceived the idea of connecting thee with myself, as thou wilt

be, if thy daughter, the wise and beautiful Hebron, accepts Tutmosis

as husband."

To this the worthy Antefa replied,--

"Holiness, sovereign of the western world, and of living men! As

Egypt, and all that is in it belongs to thee, so this house and all

its inhabitants are thy possession. Since it is thy desire that my

daughter should be the wife of thy favorite, let it be so."

Now the pharaoh declared to Antefa that Tutmosis had twenty talents of

yearly salary, and considerable estates in various provinces.

Thereupon the worthy Antefa declared that his daughter Hebron would

have fifty talents a year, also the right to make use of the estates

of her father in those provinces in which the pharaoh's court

sojourned for a season. And since he had no son, his immense property,

which was free of debt, would pass to Tutmosis some time, together

with the office of nomarch of Thebes, in so far as that transfer might

coincide with the will of the pharaoh.

After concluding the conditions Tutmosis entered the court, thanked

Antefa first for giving his daughter to one so unworthy, and second,

because he had reared her so beautifully. It was arranged then that

the ceremony of marriage would take place in a few days, since

Tutmosis, as leader of the guard, had no time for protracted

preliminaries.

"I wish thee happiness, my son," said Antefa, smiling, "and also great

patience, because my beloved daughter, now twenty years old, is the

first exquisite in Thebes, and has had her will always. By the gods, I

tell thee that my command over Thebes always ends at the gate of her

garden. And I fear that thy military command will go no farther."

Next the noble Antefa invited his guests to a splendid banquet, in the

course of which the beautiful Hebron showed herself with a great

retinue of damsels.

In the dining-hall were numbers of small tables for two or four

persons, also a larger table, on a loftier place, for the pharaoh. To

show honor to Antefa and his favorite, Tutmosis, Rameses approached

Hebron and invited her to his table.

The young lady was really beautiful, and as it seemed had experience,

a thing not exceptional in Egypt. Rameses soon noticed that the

betrothed turned no attention whatever toward Tutmosis, but to make up

for this she turned eloquent glances toward him, the pharaoh.

That also was no wonder in Egypt.

When the guests had taken their places, when music sounded and female

dancers began to bring fruit and wine to the tables, Rameses said to

Hebron,--

"The longer I look at thee, the more I am astonished. Were some

stranger to enter he might consider thee a high priestess or a

goddess, but never a woman at the time of happy betrothal."

"I am happy," said she, "at this moment, though not because of

betrothal."

"How is that?" interrupted the pharaoh.

"Marriage does not entice me, and surely I should rather be the high

priestess of Isis than be married."

"Then why marry?"

"I marry because it is the absolute wish of my father to have an heir

to his glory, but mainly because it is thy wish, my sovereign."

"Can it be that Tutmosis does not please thee?"

"I will not say that he does not please me. Tutmosis is fine-looking;

he is the first exquisite in Egypt, he plays well, and takes prizes at

games. His position, as commander of thy guard, is one of the highest.

Still, were it not for the prayers of my father, and thy command I

should not marry Tutmosis. Even as it is, I shall not be his wife. My

property will suffice Tutmosis and the titles after my father; the

rest he can find among dancing girls."

"But does he know of his misfortune?"

Hebron smiled.

"He knows this long time that even were I not the daughter of Antefa,

but of the lowest dissector, I would not give myself to a man unless I

loved him. I could love only a man who is above me."

"Art thou speaking seriously?" asked Rameses in wonder.

"I am twenty years old. Since I was six years of age adorers have

surrounded me; but I measured them quickly. And to-day I would rather

hear learned priests than songs and declarations from youthful

exquisites."

"In that case I ought not to sit near thee, Hebron, for I am not even

an exquisite, and I have no priestly wisdom whatever."

"Thou art something higher," replied she, blushing deeply. "Thou art a

chief who has won victory. Thou art as impetuous as a lion, as swift

as a vulture. Millions fall on their faces before thee, and kingdoms

tremble. Do I not know what fear is roused by thy name in Tyre and

Nineveh? Gods might be jealous of thy influence."

Rameses was confused.

"O Hebron, Hebron," said he. "If thou knew what alarm thou art sowing

in my heart."

"For this very reason," continued Hebron, "I marry Tutmosis. I shall

be nearer thee, and shall see thee, though for a few days only."

She rose and left the hall.

Antefa noted her action and hastened in alarm to Rameses.

"O lord!" cried he, "has my daughter said anything improper? She is an

untamable lioness!"

"Be at rest," said Rameses. "Thy daughter is full of wisdom and

dignity. She went out because she saw that thy wine was gladdening the

guests rather powerfully."

In fact a great uproar had risen in the hall, all the more since

Tutmosis, abandoning the rôle of assistant host, had become a most

animated talker.

"I will say to thee in confidence, holiness, that poor Tutmosis must

guard himself greatly in presence of my daughter," remarked Antefa.

That first feast continued till morning. The pharaoh, it is true,

departed immediately, but others remained, first in their chairs and

then on the floor. Finally Antefa had to send them home as if they had

been lifeless objects.

The marriage ceremony took place some days later.

To Antefa's palace went the high priests Herhor and Mefres, the

nomarchs of the neighboring provinces, and the chief officials of

Thebes. Later appeared Tutmosis on a two-wheeled chariot, attended by

officers of the guard, and finally his holiness, the pharaoh.

Rameses was attended by the chief scribe, the commander of the

archers, the commander of the cavalry, the chief judge, the chief

treasurer, Sem the high priest, and the adjutant-generals.

When that splendid assembly was in the hall of the ancestors of the

most worthy Antefa, Hebron appeared in white robes with a numerous

retinue of damsels and maids in attendance. Her father, after he had

burned incense before Amon and the statue of his own father, and

Rameses XIII., who was sitting on a raised platform, declared that he

freed his daughter Hebron from guardianship and provided her with a

dowry. Then he gave her, in a gold tube, a document securing her

dowry, and written before the court on papyrus.

After a short lunch the bride took her seat in a costly litter borne

by eight officials of the province. Before her went music and singers;

around the litter were dignitaries, and behind them an immense crowd

of people. All this procession moved toward the temple of Amon,

through the most beautiful streets of the city, amid a throng of

people almost as numerous as that which had attended the funeral of

the pharaoh.

[Illustration: Avenue of Sphinxes from the Temple of Karnak

to the Nile]

At the temple the people remained outside the walls while the bride

and groom, the pharaoh and dignitaries, entered the hall of columns.

There Hebron burned incense before the veiled statue of Amon,

priestesses performed a sacred dance, and Tutmosis read the following

act from a papyrus:

"I, Tutmosis, commander of the guard of his holiness Rameses XIII.,

take thee, Hebron, daughter of Antefa the nomarch of Thebes, as wife.

I give thee now the sum of ten talents because thou hast consented to

marry me. For thy robes I designate to thee three talents yearly, and

for household expenses one talent a month. Of the children which we

may have the eldest son will be heir to the property which I possess

now and which I may acquire hereafter. If I should not live with thee,

but divorce myself and take another wife, I shall be obliged to pay

thee forty talents, which sum I secure with my property. Our son, on

receiving his estate, is to pay thee fifteen talents yearly. Children

of another wife are to have no right to the property of our first-born

son."[45]

[45] Authentic.

The chief judge appeared now and read an act in which the bride

promised to give good food and raiment to her husband, to care for his

house, family, servants, slaves, and cattle, and to entrust to that

husband the management of the property which she had received or would

receive from her father.

After the acts were read Herhor gave Tutmosis a goblet of wine. The

bridegroom drank half, the bride moistened her lips with it, and then

both burned incense before the purple curtain.

Leaving the temple of Amon the young couple and their splendid retinue

passed through the avenue of sphinxes to the pharaoh's palace. Crowds

of people and warriors greeted them with shouts, scattering flowers on

their pathway.

Tutmosis had dwelt up to that time in the chambers of the pharaoh, but

on the day of his marriage Rameses presented him with a beautiful

little villa in the depth of the gardens, surrounded by a forest of

fig trees, myrtles and baobabs, where the bridegroom and bride might

pass days of happiness hidden from human eye, and cut off, as it were,

from the world about them.

In that quiet corner people showed themselves so rarely that even

birds did not flee before them. When the young couple and the guests

found themselves in this new dwelling the final ceremony of marriage

followed:

Tutmosis took Hebron by the hand and led her to a fire burning before

a statue of Isis; then Mefres poured a spoonful of holy water on the

lady's head; Hebron touched the fire with her hand, while Tutmosis

divided a morsel of bread with her and placed his own ring on her

finger in sign that from that time forth she was mistress of his land,

his servants, his slaves and cattle.

Meanwhile the priests sang wedding hymns and bore the statue of the

divine Isis through the whole house; and priestesses performed sacred

dances.

The day ended with spectacles and a great feast, during which all

noticed that Hebron accompanied the pharaoh continually, and that

Tutmosis kept at a distance from her, and simply entertained guests at

the wedding.

When the stars had risen the holy Herhor left the feast, and soon

after some of the highest dignitaries slipped out also. About midnight

the following worthy persons met in a subterranean chamber of the

temple of Amon: the high priests Herhor, Mefres, and Mentezufis, the

chief judge of Thebes, also the chiefs of the provinces of Abs, Horti,

and Emsuch.

Mentezufis looked around among the great columns, closed the door,

quenched the torches, and in that lower chamber there remained only

one light, that which burned before a statue of Horus. The dignitaries

sat down on three stone benches.

"If I were commanded to describe the character of Rameses XIII.," said

the nomarch of Abs, "I should be unable to do so."

"He is a maniac!" said Mefres.

"I do not know that he is a maniac," answered Herhor, "but he is very

dangerous in every case. Already Assyria has reminded us twice of the

last treaty, and is beginning, I hear, to be alarmed at the arming of

Egypt."

"That is of less importance," said Mefres; "there is something worse,

for this godless man is thinking to violate the treasure of the

labyrinth."

"But I should consider," said the nomarch of Emsuch, "that his

promises to the people are the worst. Our income and that of the state

will be shattered if the common people are idle one day in seven. But

if the pharaoh gives them land in addition?"

"He is ready to do that," said the chief judge in a whisper.

"Is he ready?" asked the nomarch of Horti. "It seems to me that he

merely wants money. If we should give him something from the

labyrinth--"

"Impossible," interrupted Herhor. "The state is not threatened by

danger, but the pharaoh is, and that is not the same question. I

repeat that as a dam is strong only while it is not penetrated by the

tiniest stream of water, so the labyrinth is full till we touch the

first block of gold in it. After that, all will go. Finally, whom do

we strengthen by the treasures of the gods and of Egypt? This young

man who despises religion, belittles priests, and disturbs the people.

Is he not worse than Assar? Assar is a barbarian, but he does not harm

us."

"It is improper for the pharaoh to pay court to his favorite's wife so

openly on the very day of the marriage," said the judge, thoughtfully.

"Hebron herself entices him," said the nomarch of Horti.

"All women entice men," answered the nomarch of Emsuch. "Sense,

however, is given a man to avoid sin."

"But is not the pharaoh husband to all the women of Egypt?" whispered

the nomarch of Abs. "Moreover, sin is under the judgment of the gods,

while we are occupied only with Egypt."

"He is dangerous! he is dangerous!" said the nomarch of Emsuch, while

his hands and head trembled. "There is no doubt that the common people

have become insolent and may rise any moment. In that case no high

priest or nomarch would be sure of his life, not to mention his office

and property."

"Against an uprising we have means," replied Herhor.

"What means?"

"First of all," answered Mefres, "we can avoid an uprising if we

explain to the wisest among common people that he who makes them

promises is a maniac."

"He is one of the soundest men under the sun," whispered the nomarch

of Horti. "All that we need is to learn what he wishes."

"He is a maniac! a maniac!" repeated Mefres. "His own brother imagines

himself a monkey, and drinks with dissectors. Rameses may act in the

same fashion any day."

"It is awkward and evil to declare a man of sound mind a maniac," said

the nomarch of Horti. "For if people see the falsehood they will cease

to believe in us, and nothing will restrain an uprising."

"If I say that Rameses is a maniac it must be that I have proof,"

replied Mefres. "And now listen."

The dignitaries moved on their benches.

"Tell me," continued Mefres, "would a man of sound mind, heir to the

throne of Egypt, dare to fight in public against a bull in presence of

so many thousands of Asiatics? Would a prince of sound judgment, an

Egyptian, wander into a Phoenician temple during night hours? Would

he, without cause, reduce to the rank of slaves his first woman, an

act which caused her death and the death of her infant?"

Those present murmured in fear.

"All this we have seen in Pi-Bast. Mentezufis and I were witnesses of

drinking feasts, at which the half-demented heir blasphemed against

the gods and insulted the priesthood."

"That is true," said Mentezufis.

"And what do ye think," continued Mefres, with greater heat, "would a

man of sound mind, the leader of an army, leave his troops to chase

after a few Libyan bandits? I pass over a number of smaller things,

even the idea of giving the people land and a holiday; could I say

that a man was of sound mind who committed so many criminal

absurdities without cause, just at random?"

Those present were silent; the nomarch of Horti was troubled.

"It is necessary to think over this," added the chief judge, "lest

injustice be done him."

Here Herhor spoke.

"Holy Mefres has done him a kindness," said he, in low decisive tones,

"by considering him a maniac. Unless he is a maniac we must call him a

traitor."

Those present moved with fear.

"Yes, the man called Rameses XIII. is a traitor, for not only does he

select spies and robbers to discover the way to the treasures of the

labyrinth, not only does he reject the treaty with Assyria, which

Egypt needs absolutely--"

"Grievous accusations," said the judge.

"But listen to me further: he is negotiating with villainous

Phoenicians to cut a canal between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

This canal is the greatest danger for Egypt, since our country might

be inundated by water in one moment. It is not a question here of the

treasures of the labyrinth, but of our temples, houses, fields, six

millions of people, foolish, it is true, but innocent, and finally of

our own lives and the lives of our children."

"If that is the case--" sighed the nomarch of Horti.

"I and the worthy Mefres pledge ourselves that it is the case, and

that this one man has gathered into his hands more dangers than have

ever yet threatened Egypt. Hence we have brought you here to provide

means of rescue. But we must act quickly, for the plans of this man

advance like a storm in a desert and may overwhelm every one of us."

For a moment there was silence in the dark chamber.

"What is to be done at present?" asked the nomarch of Emsuch. "We live

in our provinces far from the court, and not only do we not know the

plans of this madman, but we cannot even divine them, we can hardly

believe that they exist. I think it is best therefore to leave this

affair with thee, worthy Herhor, and with Mefres. Ye have discovered

the disease, provide the remedy and act. But if the greatness of

responsibility alarms you, associate with yourselves the supreme judge

as assistant."

"Yes! yes! he speaks truth," confirmed the indignant officials.

Mentezufis lighted a torch and placed on a table before the statue of

the god a papyrus on which was written an act of the following

contents: In view of dangers threatening the state, the power of the

secret council passes into the hands of Herhor with whom are

associated as assistants the supreme judge and Mefres.

This act, confirmed by the signatures of the dignitaries present, was

enclosed in a tube and concealed in a secret place beneath the altar.

In addition, each one of the seven associates bound himself under oath

to attract to the conspiracy ten dignitaries. Herhor promised to bring

proof that Assyria was insisting on the treaty, and that the pharaoh

did not wish to sign it, that he was negotiating with Phoenicians to

dig the canal, and that he intended to enter the labyrinth

treacherously.

"My life and honor are in your hands," concluded Herhor. "If what I

have said is untrue condemn me to death, and have my body burned

afterward."

No one doubted now that the high priest spoke the pure truth; for no

Egyptian would expose his body to burning and his soul to destruction.

Tutmosis spent a few days after the wedding in company with Hebron, in

the palace given him by his holiness. But every evening he went to the

barracks of the guard, where with officers and dancers he passed the

nights very pleasantly.

From this conduct his comrades divined that he had married Hebron only

for her dowry; this, however, did not astonish any one.

After five days Tutmosis announced to the pharaoh that he was ready to

resume his duties. Thenceforth he visited his wife only in the

daytime, the nights he passed near his lord's chamber.

One evening the pharaoh said to him,--

"This palace has so many corners for watching and listening that every

act of mine is noted. My revered mother is addressed again by those

mysterious voices which ceased in Memphis after I dismissed the

priesthood. I cannot receive therefore any one in my own chamber, but

must leave the palace and take counsel with my servants in a safe

place."

"Am I to follow thee, holiness?" inquired Tutmosis, seeing that the

pharaoh was looking around for his mantle.

"No; thou must stay here and see that no one enters my chamber. Admit

no person, not even my mother, not even the shade of my ever-living

father. Thou wilt say that I am asleep and will see no one."

"It will be as thou hast said," replied Tutmosis, putting on his lord

a hooded mantle. Then he quenched the light in the bedchamber and

Rameses went out through side passages.

When he was in the garden Rameses stopped and looked on all sides with

attention. Then, taking bearings, he started quickly toward the villa

which he had given Tutmosis. After he had walked some minutes in a

shady alley a man stood before him and inquired,--

"Who goes?"

"Nubia," answered the pharaoh.

"Libya," said the inquirer, and pushed back suddenly, as if

frightened.

The man was an officer of the guard. The pharaoh looked at him, and

said,--

"Ah, this is Eunana! What art thou doing in this place?"

"I am going around the gardens; I do so a couple of times nightly, for

thieves steal in sometimes."

"Thou dost wisely. But remember the first duty of an officer of the

guard is silence. Drive the thief out, but if thou meet a man in

office seize him not, be silent, be silent always. Even if the high

priest Herhor were in question."

"Oh lord!" exclaimed Eunana, "but command me not to do homage in the

night to Herhor, or to Mefres. I am not sure that my sword at sight of

them would not spring of itself from the scabbard."

Rameses smiled.

"Thy sword is mine," replied he, "and it may leave the scabbard only

when I give the order." He nodded to Eunana and passed on.

After wandering a quarter of an hour by paths intended to mislead, the

pharaoh found himself near a secret gate in a thicket. It seemed to

him that he heard a rustle, and he said in a low voice,--

"Hebron!"

A figure, also in a dark mantle, ran out, rushed at Rameses and clung

to his neck, whispering,--

"Is it thou? is it thou? Oh, how long I have waited!"

The pharaoh felt that she was slipping from his embrace, so he took

her in his arms and carried her to an arbor. At that moment the mantle

fell from his shoulders; he dragged it for a while, but at last

dropped it.

Next day the revered lady Nikotris summoned Tutmosis. The favorite of

the pharaoh was frightened when he looked at her. The queen was

terribly pale, her eyes were sunken and she was almost demented.

"Sit down!" said she, indicating a stool near her armchair.

Tutmosis hesitated.

"Sit down! And--and swear that thou wilt repeat to no one what I tell

thee."

"By the shade of my father, I will not."

"Hear me," said the queen in a low voice; "I have been almost a mother

to thee. Wert thou to betray this secret the gods would punish thee.

No--they would only cast on thy head a part of those misfortunes which

are hanging over my family."

Tutmosis listened with astonishment.

"Is she mad?" thought he with fear.

"Look at that window," continued the queen; "look at that tree. Dost

thou know whom I saw last night on that tree outside the window?"

"Could the brother of his holiness have come to Thebes?"

"It was not he," whispered she, sobbing. "It was my Rameses himself."

"On the tree? Last night?"

"Yes. The light of the lamp fell on his face and figure perfectly. He

had a coat in white and blue stripes, his eyes were wandering--he

laughed wildly, like his unfortunate brother, and said, 'Look at me,

mother, I am able to fly now, a thing that neither Seti, nor Rameses

the Great, nor Cheops could do. See what wings are growing out on me!'

He stretched his hands toward me, and I, unconscious from sorrow,

touched his hands through the window and his face, covered with cold

perspiration. At last he slipped down the tree and vanished."

Tutmosis listened in terror. All at once he struck his forehead.

"That was not Rameses," said he with decision. "That was a man very

like him, that villain, the Greek Lykon, who killed Sarah's son, and

who is now under control of the high priests. That was not Rameses.

This is a crime of Herhor and Mefres, those wretches."

Hope gleamed on the queen's face, but only for a moment.

"How could I fail to recognize my son?"

"Lykon is very like him," answered Tutmosis. "This is a trick of the

priests. They are infamous! For them death is too slight a

punishment."

"Did the pharaoh sleep at home last night?" inquired the lady.

Tutmosis was confused and dropped his eyes.

"So he did not sleep at home?"

"He did," answered the favorite with an uncertain voice.

"That is not true. But tell me, at least, did he not wear a coat with

white and blue stripes?"

"I do not remember," whispered Tutmosis.

"Thou art telling untruth again. And this mantle, tell me if this is

not my son's mantle? My slave found it on that same tree, in the

branches."

The queen sprang up and brought from a case a brown, hooded mantle.

Tutmosis remembered that the pharaoh had returned after midnight

without his mantle and even explained to him that he had lost it

somewhere in the garden. He hesitated, meditated, but at last answered

with decision,--

"No, queen, that was not the pharaoh. That was Lykon, and this is a

crime of the priests which I must report to his holiness straightway."

"But if that were Rameses?" inquired the lady again, though in her

eyes a spark of hope was now evident.

Tutmosis was troubled. His conclusion that it was Lykon was wise and

might be true, but indications were not lacking that the queen had

seen Rameses. It was certain that he had returned to his chamber after

midnight; he wore a tunic with white and blue stripes, he had lost

his mantle. It was true that his brother was demented, and, moreover,

could a mother's heart deceive her?

And doubts rose in the soul of Tutmosis, intricate and involved as a

nest of poisonous reptiles. Luckily in proportion as his doubts

increased hope entered the heart of Nikotris.

"It is well that thou hast reminded me of that Lykon," said she. "I

remember. Through him Mefres accused Rameses of child murder, and

to-day he may use the wretch to defame his sovereign. In this case not

a word to any one of what I have told thee. If Rameses--if in truth he

is subject to such a misfortune, it may be temporary. We must not

humiliate him by mentioning such reports, we must not inform him. If

this is a plot of the priests we must also be cautious. Though people

who use such deceit cannot be powerful."

"I will investigate this," interrupted Tutmosis, "but if I convince

myself--"

"Do not inform Rameses--I implore thee by the shade of thy father!"

exclaimed the queen, clasping her hands. "The pharaoh would not

forgive them, he would deliver them to judgment, and then one of two

misfortunes would happen. Either the supreme priests of the state

would be condemned to death, or the court would free them. And then

what? But pursue Lykon and slay him without mercy, like a wild

beast--like a reptile."

Tutmosis took farewell of the queen. She was pacified, though his

fears had grown greater.

"If that villainous Greek, Lykon, is living yet, despite imprisonment

by the priests," thought he, "he would prefer flight to climbing trees

and showing himself to the queen. I myself would facilitate his

escape, and cover him with wealth if he would tell the truth and seek

protection against those wretches. But whence came the mantle? How

deceive the mother?"

From that time Tutmosis avoided the pharaoh, and dared not look him in

the eyes, while Rameses himself acted strangely, so their heartfelt

relations seemed to grow cold somewhat.

But one evening the pharaoh summoned his favorite a second time.

"I must speak with Hiram," said he, "on questions of importance. I am

going out. Watch here at my chamber, and if any man wishes to see me

do not admit him."

When the pharaoh vanished in the secret corridors Tutmosis was seized

by alarm.

"Maybe," thought he, "the priests have poisoned him to produce

insanity; and he, feeling that an attack is coming, flees from his own

palace? Ha! we shall see!"

In fact he did see. The pharaoh returned well after midnight to his

chambers, and had a mantle; it was not his own, however, but a

soldier's.

Tutmosis was alarmed and did not sleep till morning, thinking that the

queen would summon him again on a sudden. The queen did not summon

him, however. But during the morning review of the guard, the officer

Eunana begged to speak with his chief for a moment.

When they were alone in a chamber Eunana fell at the feet of Tutmosis

and implored the chief not to repeat what he was going to tell him.

"What has happened?" inquired the adjutant, feeling cold in his heart.

"Chief," said Eunana, "yesterday I saw a man running in the garden

naked, and crying in an unearthly voice. He was brought in to me, and,

chief--slay me!"

Eunana fell again at the feet of Tutmosis.

"That naked man--that-- I cannot tell."

"Who was he?" inquired the terrified Tutmosis.

"I will not tell!" groaned Eunana. "I took off my mantle and covered

sacred nakedness. I wanted to take him to the palace--but--I--the lord

commanded me to stay where I was, and be silent--be silent!"

"Whither did he go?"

"I know not. I did not look, and I did not let the warriors look. He

vanished somewhere among the bushes of the garden. I told my men not

to see anything, not to hear anything; that if any man saw or heard

anything he would be strangled that instant."

Tutmosis had succeeded in mastering himself.

"I know nothing," said he, coldly, "and understand nothing of what

thou hast said to me. But remember one thing: I myself ran naked once

when I had drunk too much wine, and I gave a good reward to those who

failed to see me. Common people, Eunana, and laborers always go naked;

great persons only when it may please them. And if the wish should

come to me or any of the officials to stand head downward, a wise and

pious officer should not wonder at my action."

"I understand," replied Eunana, looking into the eyes of his chief

quickly. "And not only will I repeat that to my warriors, but I will

even go naked this night through the garden to let them know that

superiors have the right to do whatever pleases them."

Still, notwithstanding the small number of men who had seen the

pharaoh or his counterfeit in a state of insanity, the reports of

these strange happenings circulated everywhere very quickly. In a few

days all the inhabitants of Thebes, from dissectors and water-carriers

to scribes and merchants, whispered that Rameses XIII. was affected

with the disease which had deprived his older brothers of succession.

Dread of the pharaoh and honor for him were so great that people

feared to speak openly, especially before strangers. Still, all heard

of it--all save Rameses.

But most peculiar was this, that the report went around the whole

kingdom very speedily; a proof that it circulated by means of the

temples. For priests alone possessed the power of communicating in a

few hours from one end of Egypt to the other.

No one mentioned these disagreeable tidings to Tutmosis directly, but

the chief of the pharaoh's guard felt their existence everywhere. From

the bearing of people with whom circumstances brought him in contact

he divined that the servants, the slaves, the warriors, the purveyors

of the court were discussing the insanity of the pharaoh, and were

silent only when some superior might overhear them.

At last Tutmosis, impatient and alarmed, decided on a conversation

with the Theban nomarch.

On arriving at the palace of his father-in-law he found Antefa lying

on a sofa in a room, one half of which was filled with rare plants

like a garden. In the centre played a fountain of water perfumed with

roses; in the corners of the room were statues of gods; on the walls

were depicted the deeds of the renowned nomarch. Standing near his

head was a black slave who cooled his master with an ostrich feather

fan; on the pavement sat the scribe of the province reading a report

to him.

Tutmosis had such an anxious face that the nomarch dismissed the

scribe and the slave straightway; then rising from the couch he looked

toward every corner of the chamber to be sure that no one overheard

them.

"Worthy father of Lady Hebron, my revered wife," said Tutmosis, "from

thy bearing I see that thou divinest the subject of which I wish to

speak."

"The nomarch of Thebes must always look ahead," replied Antefa. "I

divine also that the commander of the guard of his holiness would not

honor me by a visit for a frivolous reason."

For a moment they looked each other in the eyes. Then Tutmosis took a

seat at the side of his father-in-law, and whispered,--

"Hast thou heard vile reports about our sovereign, which the enemies

of the state are spreading?"

"If it be a question of my daughter Hebron," replied the nomarch

quickly, "I declare that thou art her lord to-day, and canst have no

question with me."

Tutmosis waved his hand with indifference.

"Some vile persons are reporting that the pharaoh is insane. Hast

heard of this, my father?"

Antefa nodded and turned his head--motions which meant equally that he

had, or that he had not. At last he said,--

"Stupidity is as great as the ocean; everything finds a place in it."

"This is not stupidity," replied Tutmosis, "but a crime of the

priests, who have in their possession a man who resembles his

holiness, and they make use of him for evil purposes." And he told the

nomarch the story of the Greek Lykon, and his crime in Pi-Bast.

"I have heard of this Lykon who killed the son of the heir," said

Antefa. "But hast thou proof that Mefres imprisoned Lykon in Pi-Bast,

that he brought him to Thebes, and that he lets him enter the gardens

of the pharaoh to counterfeit the sovereign as insane?"

"Just because I have not proof of this do I ask thee, worthiness, what

to do. I am the commander of the guard and I must watch over the honor

and safety of our sovereign."

"'What thou must do?'" repeated Antefa. "Well, first of all take care

that these vile reports do not reach the ears of the pharaoh."

"Why?"

"Because a great misfortune would happen. If our lord hears that Lykon

feigns insanity and pretends to be the pharaoh, he will fall into

terrible anger. Naturally he will direct that anger against Herhor and

Mefres. Maybe he will only abuse them in words, maybe he will imprison

them, maybe he will kill them. Whatever he does, he will do it without

proof, and what then? Egypt at present does not care to give offerings

to the gods, but it will take the part of priests injured without

reason. And what then? Well," added he, approaching his lips to

Tutmosis' ear, "I think it would be the end of the dynasty."

"What am I to do?"

"One thing!" exclaimed Antefa. "Find Lykon, prove that Mefres and

Herhor secreted him, and ordered him to counterfeit the pharaoh as

insane. Thou must do this, if thou wish to keep the favor of thy

sovereign. Proofs--as many proofs as possible! Egypt is not Assyria;

thou canst not act against high priests without the court, and no

court will condemn them without tangible evidence. Where hast thou the

certainty that some one did not give the pharaoh an intoxicating

potion? That would be simpler than to send out a man at night who

knows neither the watchword, nor the palace, nor the garden. I have

heard of Lykon from an authentic source, for I heard from Hiram.

Still, I do not understand how Lykon could perform such miracles in

Thebes."

"But--but--" interrupted Tutmosis, "where is Hiram?"

"Immediately after the wedding he went to Memphis, and in these last

days he was in Hiten."

Tutmosis again was in trouble: "That night," thought he, "when they

took a naked man to Eunana, the pharaoh said that he was going to see

Hiram. But as Hiram was not in Thebes, then what? Well, his holiness

knew not at the moment that of which he himself was talking."

Tutmosis returned home dazed. Not only did he fail to understand what

he was to do in that unheard-of position, but even he knew not what to

think of the position itself. His conviction while conversing with

Nikotris, that Lykon, the emissary of high priests, had appeared in

the garden, was equalled now by his doubts as to whether the Greek had

been there at all.

And if this was the case with Tutmosis the favorite, who saw Rameses

at all times, what must it be in the hearts of strangers. The most

devoted adherents of the pharaoh and his measures might hesitate on

hearing from all sides that their sovereign was demented.

This was the first blow which the priests gave Rameses XIII. Slight in

itself, it involved results which were beyond reckoning.

Not only did Tutmosis hesitate, he suffered. Under a frivolous

exterior he had a character at once energetic and noble. So that day,

when men struck at the honor and power of his sovereign, inactivity

was devouring Tutmosis. He seemed to himself the commander of a

fortress which the enemy was undermining, while he himself was looking

on in helplessness. This thought so tortured him that under its

influence he fell upon a daring plan. Meeting the high priest Sem, he

said to him,--

"Worthiness, hast thou heard the reports about our sovereign?"

"The pharaoh is young, hence various scandals may circulate concerning

him," replied Sem, looking strangely at Tutmosis. "But such affairs

pertain not to me; I take the place of his holiness in the service of

the gods; I fulfil that office as I know best, and have no care for