h would enable him to redeem the property
mortgaged to the priests, and put an end at once and forever to their
meddling."

The prince's eyes glittered, and Hiram continued,

"Today the army depends on Herhor, and therefore on the priests; remove
the foreign regiments, and the pharaoh, in case of war, could not
depend on his warriors.

"Besides, the royal treasury is empty, and the greater part of the
pharaoh's property belongs to the temples. He must contract new debts
yearly even to maintain his household; and since there will be no
Phoenicians among you, ye must borrow of the temples. In this way, when
ten years have passed, his holiness may he live through eternity! will
lose what is left of his property, and then what?"

On the forehead of Ramses perspiration came out in drops.

"Thou seest then, worthy lord," continued Hiram, "the priests might and
even would be forced in one case to accept the most disgraceful treaty
with Assyria: if they are working to lower and destroy the power of the
pharaoh well, there may be another case: if Egypt were so weak as to
need peace at any price."

The prince sprang up.

"Silence!" cried he. "I should prefer treason on the part of my most
faithful servants, to such weakness in the country. Egypt yield to
Assyria why, a year later Egypt herself would fall under the yoke of
Assyria, for by subscribing to such infamy she would confess her own
helplessness."

He walked up and down the room, with indignation, while Hiram looked at
him with compassion or with sympathy.

All at once Ramses halted before the Phoenician,

"This is false! Some adroit villain has deceived thee, O Hiram, with
the semblance of truth, and Thou hast believed him. If such a treaty
existed, they would have kept it in the closest secrecy. In the present
case one of the four priests whom Thou hast mentioned is a traitor, not
only to his own sovereign, but to his co-conspirators."

"There might have been some fifth man who overheard them," interrupted
Hiram.

"And who sold the secret to thee?"

"It is a wonder to me," said Hiram, "that the prince has not discovered
the power of gold."

"But stop, worthiness, our priests have more gold than thou, though
Thou art wealthy beyond the wealthy!"

"Still I am not angry when a drachma comes to me. Why should others
refuse a talent?"

"They would because they are servants of the gods," said the prince,
passionately; "they would fear divine punishment."