."

"I shall fall asleep in presence of this man," said the pharaoh.

"Eunana," said Tutmosis, "his holiness is convinced that Thou art
expert in books, but tell now in as few words as possible what thy wish
is."

"An arrow does not go so quickly to its mark as my request will fly to
the divine feet of his holiness," replied Eunana. "The service of the
shaven heads has so disgusted me, the priests have filled my heart with
such bitterness, that if I am not transferred to the army of the
pharaoh, I shall pierce myself with my own sword, before which the
enemies of Egypt have trembled more than one time and more than a
hundred times. I would rather be a decurion, nay a simple warrior of
his holiness than a centurion in priestly regiments; a pig or a dog may
serve them, but not a believing Egyptian!"

Eunana uttered the last words with such mad anger that the pharaoh said
in Greek to Tutmosis,

"Take him to the guard. An officer who does not like the priests may be
of use to us."

"His holiness, the lord of both worlds has given command to receive
thee into his guard," repeated Tutmosis.

"My health and life belong to our lord. May he live through eternity!"
exclaimed Eunana, and he kissed the footstool beneath the feet of the
pharaoh.

Eunana, now made happy, moved backward, falling on his face after every
couple of steps, and left the tent, blessing his sovereign.

"His garrulousness irritated me," said Ramses. "I must teach Egyptian
soldiers and officers to speak briefly, not like learned scribes."

"May the gods grant that to be his only failing," whispered Tutmosis,
on whom Eunana had made a bad impression.

Ramses summoned Samentu.

"Be at rest," said he to the priest. "That officer who came after thee
was not following. He is too stupid for commissions of that sort. But a
heavy hand may be used in case of necessity. Well, now, tell me what
inclined thee to such cautiousness?"

"I know, almost, the road to the treasure chambers in the labyrinth,"
said Samentu.

The pharaoh shook his head.

"That is a difficult task," said he in a low voice. "I ran an hour
through various halls and corridors, like a mouse chased by a cat. And
I confess that, not merely did I not understand that road, but I could
not have even escaped from the place unattended. Death in the sunlight
may be pleasant, but death in those dens, where a mole would lose its
way! Brr!"

"Still we must find that road and master it," said