chariots and swords we might
buy the good-will of all the Assyrian satraps. And maybe even King
Assar himself would not resist if we gave him furniture for his throne
hall, or his arsenal."

"I think that they would rather take all from us by the sword than a
few through good-will," said the pharaoh.

"Let them try!" replied the priest.

"I understand. Ye have then means of destroying the treasures. But in
that case no one could make use of them."

"That is not a question for my mind," replied the overseer. "We guard
what is given to us, and do what is ordered."

"Would it not be better to use a portion of these treasures to fill the
coffers of the state and raise Egypt from the misery in which it is at
present?" asked the pharaoh.

"That does not depend on us."

Ramses frowned. He examined things for some time without very great
interest; at last he inquired,

"Yes, these products of art might be useful in gaining the good-will of
Assyrian dignitaries; but if war were to break out with Assyria how
could we get wheat, men, and arms from nations which have no knowledge
of rare objects?"

"Open the treasury," said the high priest.

At this time the priests hurried in different directions: two vanished
as if in the interior of columns, while a third went up along the wall
on steps and did something near a carved figure.

Again a hidden door slipped aside and Ramses entered the real hall of
treasure.

That was a spacious room filled with priceless objects. In it were
earthen jars containing gold dust, lumps of gold piled up like bricks,
and ingots of gold in packages. Blocks of silver stored at one side
formed, as it were, a wall two ells thick and as high as the ceiling.
In niches and on stone tables lay precious stones of every color:
rubies, topazes, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, pearls as large as nuts
and even as birds' eggs. There were single jewels which equaled a town
in value.

"This is our property in case of misfortune," said the overseer.

"For what misfortune are ye waiting?" inquired the pharaoh. "The people
are poor, the nobility and the court are in debt, the army decreased
one half, the pharaoh without money. Has Egypt ever been in a worse
position?"

"It was in a worse position when the Hyksos conquered it."

"In a few years," replied Ramses, "even the Israelites will conquer
this country unless the Libyans and Ethiopians precede them. And then
these beautiful stones, broken into pi