father than fail to pay the money due him. It
seems to me that he must be at rest concerning interest, since he has
not mentioned it. I do not think of hiding from you, holy fathers, that
the Phoenicians are more dexterous than Egyptians. Our wealthy men
would make some faces before lending me one hundred talents; they would
groan, make me wait a month, and at last demand immense pledges and a
high rate of interest. But Phoenicians know the hearts of princes
better; they give us money even without a judge or witnesses."

The high priest was so irritated by this quiet banter that he pressed
his lips together and was silent. Mentezufis rescued him by asking
quickly,

"What wouldst Thou say, worthiness, were we to make a treaty with
Assyria, yielding northern Asia and Phoenicia?"

While asking this question, he had his eyes fixed on the face of the
heir. But Ramses answered him with perfect calmness,

"I should say that only traitors could persuade the pharaoh to make
such a treaty."

Both priests started up. Mefres raised his hands; Mentezufis clinched
his fist.

"But if danger to the state demanded it?" insisted Mentezufis.

"What do ye wish of me?" burst out the prince. "Ye interfere with my
debts and women, ye surround me with spies, ye dare reproach me, and
now ye give me some sort of traitorous queries. Now I will tell you: I,
if ye were to poison me, would not sign a treaty like the one ye
mention. Luckily that does not depend on me, but on his holiness, whose
will we must all obey."

"What wouldst Thou do, then, wert Thou the pharaoh?"

"What the honor and the profit of the state demanded."

"Of that I doubt not," said Mentezufis. "But what dost Thou consider
the profit of the state? Where are we to look for indications?"

"Why is the supreme council in existence?" asked Ramses, with feigned
auger this time. "Ye say this council is made up of all the great
sages. In that case let them take on themselves responsibility for a
treaty which I should look on as a shame and as destruction."

"Whence dost Thou know, worthiness, that thy godlike father would not
act in just such a manner?"

"Why ask me, then, of this matter? What investigation is this? Who
gives you the right to pry into my heart?"

Ramses feigned to be so mightily indignant that the priests were
satisfied.

"Thou speakest, prince," said Mefres, "as becomes a good Egyptian. Such
a treaty would pain us, too; but danger to the state forces