e. Reports began to circulate, it was unknown where they
had originated, that the new pharaoh, whom the whole people loved
instinctively, intended to occupy himself with improving the condition
of earth-tillers, laborers, and even captives. For this cause it
happened, an unheard-of thing, that masons, cabinet makers, potters,
instead of drinking quietly and speaking of their own occupation, or
family interests, dared to complain in dramshops, not only of taxes,
but even to complain of the power of the priesthood. And earth-tillers,
instead of devoting time free of labor to prayers and the memory of
their ancestors, told one another how well it would be if each man had
some bit of land as his own, and could rest one day in seven.

Of the army, and especially foreign regiments, nothing was to be said.
Those men imagined that they were the most noted class in Egypt, and if
they were not, they would soon be, after some fortunate war in the near
future.

But the nomarchs, the nobility living on estates, and above all, the
high priests of various temples mourned their deceased lord with
solemnity, though they might have rejoiced, since the pharaoh had
become Osiris.

Taking things as they were, the new ruler had interfered with no one
thus far, hence the cause of grief for dignitaries lay in those same
reports which delighted common people. The nomarchs and the nobility
grieved at the thought that their earth-tillers might be idle fifty
days in a year, and, what was worse, possess land, though even of an
extent on which a tomb might be erected. Priests grew pale and gritted
their teeth when they saw the management of Ramses XIII and the way in
which he treated them.

In fact, immense changes had taken place in the pharaoh's palace.

The pharaoh had transferred his residence to one of the wing buildings,
in which almost all the chambers were occupied by generals. In the
cellars Greek warriors were quartered, on the first story the guard, in
the chambers along the wall, Ethiopians. Guard around the building was
kept by Asiatics, and near the chambers of his holiness was quartered
that squadron from which were selected the warriors who had accompanied
their lord when he hunted Tehenna through the desert.

What was worse, his holiness, in spite of the recent rebellion of the
Libyans restored to them his favor; he condemned none to punishment,
and gave them his confidence.

That corps of priests who had been in the main pa