and jewels to pay the Assyrians. Envoys of King Assar are circling
about through our country and they say that if we pay a liberal sum
yearly the King and the satraps not only will not oppress us, but will
offer us more profits than those which we have now in Egypt, O
holiness, through thy favor."

The pharaoh grew pale and set his teeth. The banker noted this and
added, quickly,

"But why should I waste thy time, holiness, with my stupid talk? Here
in Memphis is Prince Hiram; he perhaps will explain all this to my lord
far better than I can, for he is a sage and a member of the supreme
council in our cities."

"Send him hither quickly," replied Ramses, "for thy conversation with
me, Dagon, is not that of a banker, but of a wailing woman at a
funeral."

The Phoenician touched the floor once again with his forehead, and
inquired,

"What if the worthy Hiram cannot come immediately? It is late now, it
is true. But he is in such fear of the priests that he would rather
come at night to do homage, O holiness."

The pharaoh bit his lips, but agreed to that project; so he sent
Tutmosis with the banker to conduct Hiram to the palace by secret
passages.

CHAPTER LV

ABOUT ten in the evening Hiram stood before his lord. He was dressed in
the dark robe of a Memphis huckster.

"Why dost Thou steal in thus, worthiness?" inquired Ramses. "Is my
palace a prison, or a house of lepers?"

"Ah, our sovereign!" sighed the old Phoenician. "Since Thou hast become
lord of Egypt the criminals are those who dare to see thee and not give
account of what Thou art pleased to tell them."

"To whom must ye repeat my words?" inquired the pharaoh.

Hiram raised his eyes and hands to heaven.

"Holiness, thou knowest thy enemies," said he.

"Thou knowest, worthiness, why I have summoned thee. I wish to borrow a
few thousand talents."

Hiram made a hissing noise through his teeth, so that the pharaoh
permitted him to sit in his presence, which was the highest honor. When
he had disposed himself comfortably and rested, Hiram said,

"Why shouldst Thou borrow, holiness, when Thou mayst have a rich
treasury?"

"I know, when I shall get Nineveh," interrupted Ramses. "That time is
distant and I need money this day."

"I speak not of war," answered Hiram; "I speak of an affair which would
bring large sums to the treasury immediately, and a permanent yearly
income."

"How?"

"Permit us, holiness, and assist us to dig a canal whic