r of the labyrinth
raised the pitcher and poured out its contents on a golden tray.

Of ninety-one pebbles eighty-three were black and only eight white.

The generals and officials lost courage, the high priests looked at the
assembly in triumph, but soon alarm seized them, for the face of Ramses
had a gladsome expression.

No one dared to declare openly that the plan of his holiness had been
defeated.

"Right-believing Egyptians, my good servants," said the pharaoh with
perfect freedom. "Ye have carried out my command, and my favor is with
you; for two days ye will be guests in my house. Ye will receive
presents and return to your houses and labors. Peace and blessings be
with you."

When he had said this he left the hall with his suite. The high priests
Herhor and Mefres gazed with a look of alarm at each other.

"He is not troubled in any way," whispered Herhor.

"Ah, I said that he is a raging wild beast," replied Mefres. "He will
not hesitate at violence, and if we do not anticipate."

"The gods will defend us and our dwellings."

In the evening the most faithful servants of Ramses XIII assembled in
his chamber: the chief treasurer, the chief scribe, Tutmosis, and
Kalippos, the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces.

"O lord," groaned the treasurer, "why not act like thy eternally living
ancestors. If the delegates had spoken openly we should now have a
right to the treasure in the labyrinth."

"His worthiness speaks the truth," put in the chief scribe.

The pharaoh shook his head.

"Ye are mistaken. If all Egypt cried, 'give the funds in the
labyrinth,' the priests would not give them."

"Then why disturb the priests by summoning delegates? This royal act
has stirred them greatly, and given insolence to common men, who today
are like a rising deluge."

"I have no fear of this deluge," said the pharaoh. "My regiments will
be dams against it. The advantage of this delegation is evident, since
it shows the weakness of my opponents: eighty-three for us, eight
against us. It proves that if they can count on one corps I can rely on
ten. Yield not to illusions; between me and the high priests war has
begun already. They are the fortress which we have summoned to
surrender. They have refused; we must storm the fortress."

"Live forever!" cried Tutmosis and Kalippos.

"Command us," said the chief scribe.

"This is my will," said Ramses. "Thou, O treasurer, wilt distribute one
hundred talents among t