CHAPTER LXI_The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt（#23646）

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

Ramses 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 Ramses 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, Ramses 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. Ramses 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, Ramses 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, be 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 Ramses in wonder.

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

surrounded me; but I measured them quickly. And today 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."

Ramses 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 Ramses.

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

untamable lioness!"

"Be at rest," said Ramses. "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 role 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.

Ramses 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 Ramses

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.

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 Ramses 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." [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 Ramses 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 Emsuchs.

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 Ramses 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. Ramses 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 Ramses 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 Ramses 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 comers 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 bed-chamber and Ramses

went out through side passages.

When he was in the garden Ramses 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."

Ramses 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 Ramses 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 Niort's 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 Ramses 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 Ramses 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 Ramses," 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 Ramses. 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 Ramses?" 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

Ramses. 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 Niort's.

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

remember. Through him Mefres accused Ramses of child murder, and today

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 Ramses 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 Ramses 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 Ramses 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 Ramses 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 Ramses.

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 comers 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 today, 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

Niort's, that Lykon, the emissary of high priests, had appeared in the

garden, was equaled 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 Ramses 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 Ramses 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 fulfill that office as I know best, and have no care for