wledge. Thou art ruling the province I know that. Now explain to me
the process."

The nomarch drew breath and began,

"I will relate, worthiness, the whole course of my life, so Thou shalt
know how weighty my work is.

"In the morning I bathe, then I give offerings to the god Amut; next I
summon the treasurer, and ask him whether the taxes for his holiness
are collected properly. When he answers yes, I praise him; when he says
that these and those people have not paid, I issue an order to imprison
the disobedient. Then I summon the overseers of the royal granaries, to
learn how much grain has been delivered. If much, I praise them; if
little, I issue an order to inflict stripes on the guilty.

"Later comes the chief scribe, and tells me which of the estates of his
holiness needs troops, officials, and laborers, and I command to send
them in return for a receipt. When he gives out less, I praise him;
when more, I commence an investigation.

"In the afternoon come Phoenician merchants, to whom I sell wheat and
bring money to the treasury of the pharaoh. Afterward I pray and
confirm the sentences of the court; toward evening the police inform me
of what has happened. No longer ago than the day before yesterday
people from my province fell upon the territory Ka and desecrated a
statue of the god Sebak. I was delighted in heart, for that god is not
our patron; still I condemned some of the guilty to strangulation, some
of them to the quarries, and all to receive stripes.

"Hence peace and good habits prevail in my province, and the taxes flow
in daily."

"Though the income of the pharaoh has decreased here also," added
Ramses.

"Thou speakest truth, lord," sighed the worthy nomarch. "The priests
say that the gods are angry with Egypt because of the influx of
foreigners; but I see that even the gods do not contemn gold and
precious stones brought by Phoenicians."

At that moment the priest Mentezufis, preceded by an officer in
waiting, entered the hall to beg the prince and the nomarch to a public
devotion. Both dignitaries consented, and the nomarch exhibited so much
piety that the prince was astonished. When Ranuzer left the company
with obeisances, Ramses said to the priest,

"Since with me, holy prophet, Thou takest the place of the most
venerable Herhor, I beg thee to explain one thing which fills my heart
with anxiety ."

"Shall I be able to explain?" asked the prophet.

"Thou wilt answer me, for Thou a