a man of sound mind, heir to the
throne of Egypt, dare to fight in public against a bull in presence of
so many thousands of Asiatics? Would a prince of sound judgment, an
Egyptian, wander into a Phoenician temple during night hours? Would he,
without cause, reduce to the rank of slaves his first woman, an act
which caused her death and the death of her infant?"

Those present murmured in fear.

"All this we have seen in Pi-Bast. Mentezufis and I were witnesses of
drinking feasts, at which the half-demented heir blasphemed against the
gods and insulted the priesthood."

"That is true," said Mentezufis.

"And what do ye think," continued Mefres, with greater heat, "would a
man of sound mind, the leader of an army, leave his troops to chase
after a few Libyan bandits? I pass over a number of smaller things,
even the idea of giving the people land and a holiday; could I say that
a man was of sound mind who committed so many criminal absurdities
without cause, just at random?"

Those present were silent; the nomarch of Horti was troubled.

"It is necessary to think over this," added the chief judge, "lest
injustice be done him."

Here Herhor spoke.

"Holy Mefres has done him a kindness," said he, in low decisive tones,
"by considering him a maniac. Unless he is a maniac we must call him a
traitor."

Those present moved with fear.

"Yes, the man called Ramses XIII is a traitor, for not only does he
select spies and robbers to discover the way to the treasures of the
labyrinth, not only does he reject the treaty with Assyria, which Egypt
needs absolutely."

"Grievous accusations," said the judge.

"But listen to me further: he is negotiating with villainous
Phoenicians to cut a canal between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.
This canal is the greatest danger for Egypt, since our country might be
inundated by water in one moment. It is not a question here of the
treasures of the labyrinth, but of our temples, houses, fields, six
millions of people, foolish, it is true, but innocent, and finally of
our own lives and the lives of our children."

"If that is the case" sighed the nomarch of Horti.

"I and the worthy Mefres pledge ourselves that it is the case, and that
this one man has gathered into his hands more dangers than have ever
yet threatened Egypt. Hence we have brought you here to provide means
of rescue. But we must act quickly, for the plans of this man advance
like a storm in a desert and may over