"'Were I to live ten thousand years I would not touch it. For, after
wisdom, I consider wealth the highest blessing.'

"'But what do I see?' inquired he after a while, pointing to an immense
palace in a garden.

"'Over there is a princely estate,' replied the god. 'That is a palace,
five hundred measures of land, one hundred slaves, and two hundred head
of cattle. That is a grand property: but if Thou think thy wisdom
sufficient to manage it.'

"The scribe fell again at the feet of Amon, and covered himself with
tears of delight.

"'O lord,' said he, 'is there on earth a mad man who instead of a
goblet of beer would not take a cask of wine?'

"'Thy words are worthy of the sage who can make the most difficult
reckonings,' said Amon.

"He pronounced the mighty words of the formula; the god and the scribe
found themselves in the palace.

"'Here Thou hast,' said the kind god, 'a dining-hall; in it gold and
gilded curtains, and armchairs, also tables inlaid with woods of
various colors. In the lower story is a kitchen for five cooks; a
storehouse where Thou wilt find all kinds of meat, fish, bread;
finally, a cellar with perfect wines in it. Thou hast a bedchamber with
a movable roof, with which thy slaves will cool thee while Thou art
sleeping. I turn attention to the bed, which is made of cedar wood, and
rests on four lion legs cast from bronze skillfully. Thou hast a
wardrobe filled with linen and woolen garments; in caskets Thou wilt
find rings, chains, and bracelets.'

"But what is this?" asked the scribe, pointing to a figure covered with
a veil embroidered in gold and purple.

"'Thou must guard thyself from this most carefully,' warned the god.
'If Thou touch this, thy immense estate will vanish. And there are few
such estates in Egypt, I assure thee. Moreover, I must say that in the
treasury here there are ten talents in gold and precious stones in
addition.'"

"My sovereign," cried the scribe, "permit that the first place in this
palace be held by thy sacred statue, before which I will burn incense
three times daily."

"'But avoid that,' replied Amon, pointing to the veiled figure.

"'Should I lose my wisdom, and be worse than a wild boar, for which
wine is no better than swill,' said the scribe; 'let that veiled figure
do penance here for a hundred millenniums, I will not touch it.'

"'Remember that if Thou do Thou wilt lose all Thou hast,' cried the
god; and he vanished.

"The scribe, now ma