The Phoenician laughed.

"I have seen," said he, "many temples of various nations, and in those
temples great and small statues, of wood, stone, and gold even. But
gods I have never met."

"Blasphemer!" exclaimed Ramses. "I have seen a divinity, I have felt
its hand on my person, I have heard its voice."

"In what place?"

"In the temple of Hator, in its hall of entrance, and in my cell."

"In the daytime?"

"In the night," replied the prince; and he stopped.

"At night the prince heard speeches of the gods, and felt their hands,"
replied the Phoenician, emphasizing word after word. "At night it is
possible to see many things. What happened?"

"In the temple I was seized by the head, by the shoulders, by the legs;
and I swear

"Phst!" interrupted Hiram, with a smile. "It is not proper to swear in
vain."

He looked fixedly at Ramses with his quick and wise eyes, and seeing
that doubt was rising in the young man, he continued,

"I will tell thee something, lord. Thou art inexperienced, though
surrounded by a net of intrigues, but I have been the friend of thy
grandfather and thy father. Now I will render thee a service: Come in
the night to the temple of Astaroth, but bind thyself to keep the
secret. Come alone, and Thou wilt be convinced as to who the gods are
who speak in the temples and touch us."

"I will come," said Ramses, after some meditation.

"Forewarn me, prince, on the morning of the day, and I will give thee
the evening password; Thou wilt be admitted. Only betray neither me nor
thyself," said the Phoenician, with a kindly smile. "Men never pardon
betrayal of their secrets, though gods pardon sometimes." He bowed,
raised his eyes and hands, while he whispered a blessing.

"Deceivers!" cried the prince. "Thou prayest to gods, and dost not
believe in them."

Hiram finished the blessing, and said,

"It is true that I have no belief in Egyptian or Assyrian, or even in
Phoenician gods, but I believe in One who dwells not in temples and
whose name is unknown to us."

"Our priests believe also in One," said Ramses.

"So do the Chaldeans, but they and your priests have conspired against
us. There is no truth in this world, prince."

After Hiram's departure the heir shut himself up in the most remote
chamber under pretext of reading sacred papyruses.

Almost in the twinkle of an eye the information received recently
arranged itself in the fiery imagination of Ramses, and he formed a
plan.