Samentu.

"But if the overseers themselves give the necessary part of the
treasure," inquired the pharaoh.

"They will not do that while Mefres, Herhor, and their confederates are
living. Believe me, sovereign, the question for those dignitaries is to
roll thee in swaddling clothes, like an infant."

Ramses grew pale from anger.

"Unless I wind them in chains! How wilt Thou discover the way?"

"Here in Abydos, in the grave of Osiris, I found the whole plan of the
road to the treasure," said Samentu.

"But how didst Thou learn that it was here?"

"Inscriptions in my temple of Set explained that to me."

"When didst Thou find the plan?"

"When the mummy of thy eternally living father, O holiness, was in the
temple of Osiris. I accompanied the revered relics and while on night
service in the hall of 'repose' I entered the sanctuary."

"Thou shouldst be a general, not a high priest!" cried Ramses,
laughing. "And now Thou understandest the way of the labyrinth?"

"I have understood it this long time, now I have taken indications for
guidance."

"Canst Thou explain it to me?"

"Of course, at the right time, I will even show thee a plan, holiness.
That way," continued Samentu, "passes in zigzags four times through the
whole labyrinth; it begins on the upper story and ends in the lowest
place underground, and has a number of other twists. That is why it is
so long."

"And how couldst Thou go from one hall to another when there is such a
multitude of doors in them?"

"On every door leading to the object there is a portion of this
sentence: 'Woe to the traitor who tries to penetrate the supreme secret
of the state and to stretch forth a sacrilegious hand toward the
treasure of the gods. His remains will be like offal, and his soul,
torn by its sins, will wander without rest, through dark places.'"

"And that inscription does not terrify thee?"

"But, holiness, does the sight of a Libyan spear terrify thee? Threats
are good against common people, but not against me, who am able myself
to write curses still more dreadful."

The pharaoh fell to thinking.

"Thou art right," said he. "A spear will not harm him who knows how to
ward it off, and a deceitful road will not lead astray the sage who
knows the word of truth. But how wilt Thou manage to make stones in the
wall move apart before thee, and columns change into doors of
entrance?"

Samentu shrugged his shoulders contemptuously.

"In my temple," replied