f the house, he entered the second chamber. At the
same time from distant apartments appeared a man, not of tall stature,
with gray beard, dressed in a gold-embroidered toga, and with a gold
band on his head.

"This is," said the host, standing in the middle of the room, "his
grace Prince Hiram, a member of the supreme council of Tyre. This is
the worthy Dagon, banker of the heir to the throne, and viceroy of
Lower Egypt."

The two dignitaries bowed, each with his hand on his breast, and both
sat down on stools in the middle of the chamber. Hiram pushed aside his
toga somewhat in order to show the great gold medal on his breast; in
answer to this Dagon began to toy with a large gold chain which he had
received from Prince Ramses.

"I, Hiram," said the old man, "congratulate thee, Lord Dagon. I wish
thee much property, and success in thy business."

"I, Dagon, congratulate thee, Lord Hiram, and I wish thee the same as
Thou wishest me."

"Dost Thou desire to dispute?" interrupted Hiram, irritated.

"How dispute? Rabsun, say if I am disputing."

"Better talk of business, your worthinesses," replied the host.

After a moment of thought Hiram proceeded,

"Thy friends in Tyre congratulate thee greatly through me."

"Is that all they have sent me?" asked Dagon, in reviling accents.

"What didst Thou wish?" inquired Hiram, raising his voice.

"Quiet! Concord!" put in the host.

Hiram sighed a number of times deeply, and said,

"It is true that we need concord. Evil times are approaching
Phoenicia."

"Has the sea flooded Tyre and Sidon?" asked Dagon, smiling.

Hiram spat, and inquired,

"Why art Thou so ill-tempered today?"

"I am always ill-tempered when men do not call me worthiness."

"But why dost Thou not say grace to me? I am a prince."

"Perhaps in Phoenicia. But in Assyria Thou wouldst wait three days in
the forecourt of any satrap for an audience, and when he deigned to
receive thee Thou wouldst be lying on thy belly, like any Phoenician
merchant."

"But what couldst Thou do in presence of a wild man who would perhaps
impale thee on a stake?" inquired Hiram.

"What I would do, I know not. But in Egypt I sit on one sofa with the
heir to the throne, who today is viceroy."

"Concord, worthiness! Concord, grace!" said the host.

"Concord! concord, because this man is a common Phoenician merchant,
and is unwilling to render me respect," cried out Dagon.

"I have a hundred ships!" shouted Hiram