they would
extend their protection to the Rebu.

Near the house of Ameres stood that of Ptylus, a priest who occupied a
position in the temple of Osiris, next in dignity to that of the high
priest.

Between the two priests there was little cordiality, for they differed
alike in disposition and manner of thought. Ptylus was narrow and
bigoted in his religion, precise in every observance of ceremonial;
austere and haughty in manner, professing to despise all learning
beyond that relating to religion, but secretly devoured with jealousy
at the esteem in which Ameres was held by the court, and his
reputation as one of the first engineers, astronomers and statesmen of
Egypt. He had been one of the fiercest in the opposition raised to the
innovations proposed by Ameres, and had at the time exerted himself to
the utmost to excite such a feeling against him as would render it
necessary for him to resign his position in the temple.

His disappointment had been intense when--owing in no slight degree to
the influence of the king himself, who regarded Ameres with too much
trust and affection to allow himself to be shaken in his confidence
even by what he held to be the erroneous views of the high priest of
Osiris--his intrigue came to nothing; but he had ever since kept an
unceasing watch upon the conduct of his colleague, without, however,
being able to find the slightest pretense for complaint against him.
For Ameres was no visionary; and having failed in obtaining a
favorable decision as to the views he entertained, he had not striven
against the tide, knowing that by doing so he would only involve
himself and his family in ruin and disgrace, without forwarding in the
smallest degree the opinions he held.

He was thus as exact as ever in his ministration in the temple,
differing only from the other performers of the sacred rites inasmuch
as while they offered their sacrifices to Osiris himself, he in his
heart dedicated his offerings to the great God of whom Osiris was but
a feeble type or image.

A certain amount of intimacy was kept up between the two families.
Although there was no more liking between the wives of the two priests
than between their husbands, they were of similar dispositions--both
were fond of show and gayety, both were ambitious; and although in
society both exhibited to perfection the somewhat gentle and indolent
manner which was considered to mark high breeding among the women of
Egypt, the slaves