be silent at all times. I beg
thee to communicate these considerations to my regiments, and I wish
all success to thee, worthiness."

"It will be as commanded, worthiness," answered the Greek.

He turned on his heel, and standing erect moved with a rattle toward
the boat. He knew about these discussions of the soldiers in the
dramshops, and understood straightway that something disagreeable had
happened to the heir, whom the troops worshipped. Therefore, when he
had reached the handful of armed men on the bank, he assumed a very
angry mien, and, waving his hands with rage, cried,

"Valiant Greek soldiers! mangy dogs, may the leprosy consume you! If,
from this time on, any Greek mentions the name of the heir to the
throne in a dramshop, I will break a pitcher on his head, cram the
pieces down his throat, and then drive him out of the regiment! One and
another of you will herd swine for Egyptian earth-workers, and hens
will lay eggs in your helmets. Such is the fate waiting for stupid
soldiers who know not how to keep their tongues quiet. And now to the
left! to the rear! turn! and march to the boat, may the plague strike
you! A soldier of his holiness should drink first of all to the health
of the pharaoh and the prosperity of the worthy minister of war,
Herhor, may they live through eternity!"

"May they live through eternity!" repeated the soldiers.

All took their places in the boat, looking gloomy. But when near
Memphis Patrokles smoothed out his wrinkled forehead and commanded them
to sing the song of that priest's daughter who so loved soldiers that
she put a doll in her bed and passed the whole night in the booth of
the sentries. Keeping time to this song, they always marched best, and
moved the oars with most nimbleness.

In the evening another boat approached Sarah's dwelling, out of which
came the chief steward of the prince's property.

Ramses received this official at the garden gate also. Perhaps he did
this through sternness, or perhaps not to constrain the man to enter
the house of his mistress and a Jewess.

"I wished," said the heir, "to see thee and to say that among my people
certain improper conversations circulate concerning decrease of rent,
or something of that kind. I wish those people to know that I will not
decrease rents. But should any man in spite of warnings persist in his
folly and talk about rents, he will receive blows of canes."

"Perhaps it would be better if he paid a fine, a