ince, the heir to the throne?" asked
Mentezufis, interrupting him.

"I think," answered Sem, "that he must be quite satisfied with the war
and supreme command. He is a born hero. When I look at him I remember
that lion, Ramses the Great. This youth is ready to rush at all the
bands of Libya, and, indeed, he may scatter them."

"This youth," added Mefres, "is capable of overturning all our temples,
and wiping Egypt from the face of the earth."

Holy Sem drew forth quickly a gold amulet which he wore on his breast,
and whispered,

"Flee, evil words, to the desert. Go far, and harm not the just. What
art Thou saying, worthiness?" continued he, more loudly, and in a tone
of reproach.

"The worthy Mefres speaks truth," said Mentezufis. "Thy head would
ache, and thy stomach also, should human lips repeat the blasphemous
words which we have heard this day from that giddy stripling."

"Jest not, O prophet," said the high priest Sem, with indignation.
"Sooner would I believe that water burns and air quenches than that
Ramses would commit blasphemy."

"He did so in seeming drunkenness," said Mefres, maliciously.

"Even if he were drunk I do not deny that the prince is frivolous, and
a rioter; but a blasphemer."

"So, too, did we think," said Mentezufis. "And we were so sure of
knowing his character that when he returned from the temple of Hator we
ceased even to exercise control over him."

"Thou wert sparing of gold to pay men for watching," said Mefres. "Thou
seest now what results are involved in a neglect which seemed slight to
thee."

"But what has happened?" inquired Sem, impatiently.

"I will answer briefly: the prince reviles the gods."

"Oho!"

"He criticizes the commands of the pharaoh."

"Is it possible?"

"He calls the supreme council traitors."

"But."

"But from whom did he learn of the coming of Beroes, even of his
interview with Mefres, Herhor, and Pentuer, in the temple of Set?"

The high priest Sem, seizing his head with both hands, walked up and
down through the cell.

"Impossible!" said he. "Impossible! Has any one cast a spell over that
young man? Perhaps the Phoenician priestess, whom he stole from the
temple."

This consideration seemed to Mentezufis so apposite that he looked at
Mefres. But the angry high priest would not be turned aside for an
instant.

"Let us see," said he. "But first we must investigate and learn what
the prince was doing day by day, after his return from