st the pharaoh."

"But if I wish indeed to improve the condition of earth-tillers?"

"Thou wilt do, lord, that which pleases thee," answered Tutmosis.

"Oh, I understand my position!" exclaimed Ramses. "Be at rest, and tell
the nobility that not only will they lose nothing in carrying out my
orders, but their own condition will be improved notably. The wealth of
Egypt must be taken at last from the hands of the unworthy and given to
faithful servants."

The pharaoh dismissed his adjutant and went to rest satisfied. His
temporary despair seemed to him laughable.

About noon of the following day it was announced that a deputation of
Phoenician merchants had come to his holiness.

"Do they wish to complain of the attack on their houses?" inquired the
pharaoh.

"No," replied the adjutant, "they wish to offer thee homage."

In fact a number of Phoenicians, under the leadership of Rabsun,
declared that, according to ancient custom they had made bold to lay an
insignificant gift at the feet of the sovereign who gave life to them
and security to their property.

Then they placed on the tables gold plates, chains, and goblets filled
with jewels.

After that, Rabsun placed on the steps of the throne a tray with the
papyrus by which the Phoenicians bound themselves to give all things
necessary for the army to the amount of two thousand talents.

That was a considerable gift, since all that the Phoenicians had
brought represented a sum of three thousand talents.

The pharaoh answered the faithful merchants very graciously, and
promised protection. He dismissed them in happiness.

Ramses XIII drew a breath of relief: bankruptcy of the treasury, and
therefore the need of using violent measures against the priests was
deferred ten days longer.

In the evening, again, under the guardianship of Tutmosis, the worthy
Hiram stood in the cabinet of his holiness. This time he did not
complain of weariness, but he fell on his face and cursed the stupid
Dagon.

"I have learned," said he, "that that mangy fellow dared to remind
thee, holiness, of our talk concerning the canal to the Red Sea. May he
perish! May the leprosy devour him! May his children become swineherds
and his grandchildren Hebrews. But do thou, sovereign, only command,
and whatever wealth Phoenicia has she will lay at thy feet without bond
or treaty. Are we Assyrians or priests," added he in a whisper, "that
one word of such a mighty potentate should not suff