"Blessing the warriors, giving food and drink to them, and pretending
that the troops are not guilty of attacking the temple; that that was
the work of Phoenicians."

"But do ye permit this demoralization of troops?" exclaimed Tutmosis.

"Well, his holiness commanded us to defend the priests against the
multitude. Had we been permitted to occupy the temple we should have
done so at ten in the morning, and the high priests now would be
sitting in a dungeon."

At this moment the officer in attendance informed Tutmosis that again
some priest had arrived from Memphis, and desired to speak with his
holiness.

Tutmosis looked at the guest. He was a man rather young, with a face as
if carved out of wood. He said that he had come to the pharaoh from
Samentu.

Ramses received the priest, who prostrated himself and gave the pharaoh
a ring, at sight of which his holiness grew pallid.

"What does this mean?" asked he.

"Samentu is no longer alive," replied the priest.

Ramses could not recover his voice for a time. At last he asked,

"How has this happened?"

"It appears," replied the priest, "that Samentu was discovered in one
of the halls of the labyrinth, and that he poisoned himself to escape
torture. It seems that Mefres discovered him through the aid of a
certain Greek, who, as they tell us, resembles thee, holiness."

"Again Mefres and Lykon!" exclaimed Tutmosis in anger. "O lord," said
he, turning to Ramses, "wilt Thou never free thyself from those
traitors?"

The pharaoh summoned a confidential council again. He called in Hiram,
also the priest who had brought the ring from Samentu. Pentuer did not
wish to take part in the council, but the worthy queen went herself to
it.

"I see," whispered Hiram to Tutmosis, "that after the expulsion of
priests women are to govern Egypt."

When the dignitaries had assembled, the pharaoh let Samentu's messenger
speak.

The young priest would not talk of the labyrinth, but he explained
sufficiently that the temple of Ptah was undefended, and that a few
tens of men would suffice to arrest all who were hiding there.

"This man is a traitor!" screamed the queen. "A priest himself, he
persuades thee to violence against the priesthood."

In the face of the messenger no muscle quivered. "Worthy lady," replied
he, "if Mefres destroyed my guardian and master, Samentu, I should be a
dog if I sought not revenge. Death for death!"

"This young man pleases me," whispered Hiram.