, disguised priests who were trying to reach the palace
of his holiness, no doubt with evil purpose.

"Bring them here," answered Ramses, laughing. "I wish to see men who
dare to form evil plans against the pharaoh."

About midnight the revered queen, Niort's, desired an audience of his
holiness.

The worthy lady was pale and trembling. She commanded the officers to
leave the pharaoh's chamber, and when alone with her son she said,
weeping,

"My son, I bring thee very bad omens."

"I should prefer, queen, to hear accurate information of the strength
and intention of my enemies."

"This evening the statue of the divine Isis in my chapel turned its
face to the wall, and water became blood-red in the sacred cistern."

"That proves," replied the pharaoh, "that there are traitors in the
palace. But they are not very dangerous if they are able only to defile
water and turn statues back forward."

"All our servants," continued the queen, "all the people are convinced
that if thy army enters the temples, great misfortune will fall upon
Egypt."

"A greater misfortune," said the pharaoh, "is the insolence of the
priesthood. Admitted by my ever-living father to the palace, they think
today that they have become its owners. But by the gods, what shall I
become at last in presence of their all-mightiness? And shall I not be
free to claim my rights as a sovereign?"

"At least at least," said the lady after a while, "be gracious. Yes,
Thou must claim thy rights, but do not permit thy soldiers to violate
holy places and do injustice to the priesthood. Remember that the
gracious gods send down delight on Egypt, and the priests in spite of
their errors (who is without them) have rendered incomparable services
to this country. Only think, if Thou shouldest impoverish and dismiss
them, Thou wouldst destroy wisdom which has raised our kingdom above
all others."

The pharaoh took his mother by both hands, kissed her, and replied,
smiling,

"Women must always exaggerate. Thou art speaking to me, mother, as if I
were the chief of wild Hyksos, and not a pharaoh. Do I wish injustice
to the priests? Do I hate their wisdom, even such barren wisdom as that
of investigating the course of the stars which move in the heavens
without our aid, and do not enrich us one uten? Neither their wisdom
nor their piety troubles me, but the wretchedness of Egypt, which
within is growing weak from hunger, and without is afraid of any threat
from A