Where is mind to be found in this place?" continued the indignant
Phoenician. "Why storm an empty building? Ye are attacking it so that
the priests may take more care of the labyrinth!"

"We will seize the labyrinth, too," said Tutmosis.

"Ye will seize nothing, nothing! Only one man could take the labyrinth,
and he will be stopped by today's action in Memphis."

Tutmosis halted on the path.

"About what art Thou troubled?" asked he, abruptly.

"About the disorder which reigns here. About this, that ye are no
longer a government, but a group of officers and officials whom the
priests send whithersoever they wish and whensoever it pleases them.
For three days there is such terrible confusion in Lower Egypt that the
people are killing us, your only friends, the Phoenicians. And why is
this? Because government has dropped from jour hands, and the priests
have seized it."

"Thou speakest thus for Thou knowest not the position," replied
Tutmosis. "It is true that the priests thwart us and organize attacks
on Phoenicians. But power is in the hands of the pharaoh; events move
in general according to his orders."

"And the attack on the temple of Ptah?" inquired Hiram.

"Was ordered by the pharaoh. I was present at the confidential council,
during which the pharaoh gave command to take possession of the temples
today instead of the 23d."

"Well, I declare to thee, commander of the guard, that ye are lost, for
I know to a certainty that the attack of today was decided on at a
council of high priests and nomarchs in the temple of Ptah, which was
held on Paofi 13."

"Why should they arrange an attack on themselves?" asked Tutmosis in a
jeering voice.

"They must have had some reason for it. And I have convinced myself
that they manage their affairs better than ye manage yours."

Further conversation was interrupted by an adjutant summoning Tutmosis
to his holiness.

"But but," added Hiram, "your soldiers have stopped on the path the
priest Pentuer, who has something important to convey to the pharaoh."

Tutmosis seized his own head, and sent officers immediately to find
Pentuer. Then he ran to the pharaoh, and after a while returned and
commanded the Phoenician to follow him.

When Hiram entered the chamber of Ramses he saw Queen Niort's, the
chief treasurer, the chief scribe, and a number of generals. Ramses
XIII was irritated, and walked up and down quickly through the chamber.

"Here we have the misfortune