, O prophet, will bring more good to the state
than an army," interrupted the high priest.

Pentuer bent before him and continued,

"In this new figure which represents the present army of the pharaoh ye
see, worthy men, besides the ruddy color which designates Egyptians by
blood, three other stripes, black, white, and yellow. They represent
mercenary divisions, Ethiopians, Asiatics, Greeks, and Libyans. There
are thirty thousand of them altogether, but they cost as much as fifty
thousand Egyptians."

"We must do away with foreign regiments at the earliest," said Me f
res. "They are costly, unsuitable, and teach our people infidelity and
insolence. At present there are many Egyptians who do not fall on their
faces before the priests; more, some of them have gone so far as to
steal from graves and temples."

"Therefore away with the mercenaries!" said Mefres, passionately. "The
country has received from them nothing save harm, and our neighbors
suspect us of hostile ideas."

"Away with mercenaries! Dismiss these unruly infidels!" cried the
priests.

"When in years to come, O Ramses, Thou wilt ascend the throne," added
Mefres, "Thou wilt fulfill this sacred duty to the gods and to Egypt."

"Yes, fulfill it! free thy people from unbelievers!" cried the priests.

Ramses bent his head, and was silent. The blood flew to his heart. He
felt that the ground was trembling under him.

He was to dismiss the best part of the army, he, who would like to have
twice as great an army and four times as many mercenary warriors.

"They are pitiless with me," thought Ramses.

"Speak on, O Pentuer, sent down from heaven to us," said Mefres.

"So then, holy men," continued Pentuer, "we have learned of two
misfortunes, the pharaoh's income has decreased, and his army is
diminished."

"What need of an army?" grumbled the high priest, shaking his head
contemptuously.

"And now, with the favor of the gods and your permission, I will
explain why it has happened thus, why the treasury will decrease
further, and troops be still fewer in the future."

The prince raised his head and looked at the speaker. He thought no
longer now of the man put to death beneath the corridor.

Pentuer passed a number of steps along the amphitheatre, and after him
the dignitaries.

"Do ye see at your feet that long, narrow strip of green with a broad
triangular space at the end of it? On both sides of the strip lie
limestone, granite, and, behind t