ods can obtain it. Meanwhile,
worthiness, though reared by priests, Thou pushest thyself away from
the temples decisively."

"How is that? Then, if I do not become a priest, will ye not explain to
me?"

"There are things, worthiness, which Thou mayest know even now, as
erpatr, there are others which Thou wilt know when Thou art the
pharaoh. There are still others which only a high priest may know."

"Every pharaoh is a high priest," interrupted the prince.

"Not every pharaoh. Besides, even among high priests there are grades
of difference."

"Then," cried the enraged heir, "ye hide the order of the state from
me, and I shall not be able to carry out the commands of my father?"

"What the prince needs may be known," answered Mentezufis, quietly,
"for Thou hast the inferior priestly consecration. Those things,
however, are hidden behind the veil in temples, which no one will dare
to draw aside without due preparation."

"I will draw it."

"May the gods defend Egypt from such a misfortune!" replied the priest,
as he raised both his hands. "Dost Thou not know, worthiness, that a
thunderbolt would kill any man who without the needed ceremonies should
touch the veil? Were the prince to take to the temple any slave or
condemned criminal and let him stretch out his hand, the man would die
that same instant."

"For ye would kill him."

"Each one of us would die just like an ordinary criminal were he to
approach the altar sacrilegiously. In presence of the gods, my prince,
a pharaoh or a priest means as little as a slave."

"What am I to do, then?" asked Ramses.

"Seek an answer to thy trouble in the temple, after Thou hast purified
thyself by prayers and fasting," answered the priest. "While Egypt is
Egypt, no ruler has gained wisdom of state in another way."

"I will meditate over this," said the prince. "Though I see from thy
words that the most venerable Mefres, and thou, holy prophet, wish to
involve me in ceremonies as ye have involved my father."

"Not at all. Worthiness, if Thou as pharaoh would limit thyself to
commanding the army, Thou mightst take part in ceremonies a few times a
year merely, for on other occasions the high priest would be thy
substitute. But if Thou wish to learn the secrets of temples, Thou must
honor the gods, for they are the fountain of wisdom."

CHAPTER XXIV

RAMSES saw now that either he would not carry out the commands of the
pharaoh or that he must yield to the will o