"Hiram," said he, "Thou art making splendid promises. So splendid that
I fear lest Thou art concealing behind them some less favorable
outcome. Therefore I must think over this matter deeply and take
counsel with the priests."

"They will never consent of themselves!" exclaimed the Phoenician.
"Though may the gods forgive me the blasphemy I am certain that if
today the highest power were in the hands of the priests they would
summon us in a couple of months to make the canal for them."

Ramses looked with cold contempt at Hiram.

"Old man," said he, "leave me to care for the obedience of the priests,
and do Thou present proofs that what Thou hast said is true. I should
be a very poor sovereign were I unable to remove obstacles springing up
between my will and the interests of Egypt."

"Thou art indeed a great sovereign, our lord," whispered Hiram, bending
to the floor.

It was then late at night. The Phoenician took farewell of the pharaoh
and left the palace with Tutmosis. The following day he sent through
Dagon a box with specimens of wealth from the unknown countries.

The pharaoh found in it statues of gods, woven stuffs, rings from
India, small morsels of opium, and in a second division handfuls of
rice, leaves of tea, two porcelain cups ornamented with pictures, and a
number of drawings made on paper with China ink and colors. He examined
them with the greatest attention and confessed that those articles were
new to him: the rice, the paper, the pictures of people with pointed
hats and sloping eyes.

He had no doubt now that a new region existed which differed in every
way from Egypt: in mountains, trees, houses, bridges, ships.

"And that country has existed for ages undoubtedly," thought he; "our
priests know of it, they know of its wealth, but say nothing. Evidently
they are traitors who wish to limit the power of the pharaoh and
impoverish him so as to push him down from the height of the throne
afterward.

"But O ye my ancestors and my heirs," said he in spirit, "I call you to
witness that I will put a limit to these iniquities; I will elevate
wisdom, but I will stamp out deceit, and I will give Egypt hours of
rest from labor."

Thinking thus, he raised his eyes and beheld Dagon waiting for an
answer.

"Thy box is very curious," said he to the banker, "but this is not what
I asked of thee."

The Phoenician approached him on tiptoe and, kneeling before him,
whispered,

"Deign holiness, to