The Pharaoh and the Priest: An Historical Novel of Ancient Egypt

by Bolesław Prus

  CHAPTER LXI

  While Pentuer was going around the country and choosing out delegates,Rameses XIII. tarried in Thebes, arranging the marriage of hisfavorite, Tutmosis.

  First of all, the ruler of two worlds, surrounded by a grand retinue,drove in a golden chariot to the palace of the most worthy Antefa.

  This magnate hurried forth to meet his sovereign before the gate,and, taking the costly sandals from his feet he knelt and assistedRameses to alight from the chariot.

  In return for this homage the pharaoh gave him his hand to kiss, anddeclared that thenceforth Antefa was his friend, and might enter eventhe throne hall in sandals.

  When they were in an immense chamber of Antefa's palace the sovereignsaid before the whole retinue,--

  "I know, worthy Antefa, that as thy revered ancestors occupy the mostbeautiful of tombs, thou, their descendant, art foremost amongnomarchs in Egypt. To thee it is known surely that in my court andarmy, as in my heart, the first place is held by Tutmosis, chief ofthe guard, and my favorite.

  "According to the opinion of sages the rich man does ill who does notput his most precious jewel into the most beautiful setting. And,since thy family is most precious to me, and Tutmosis is most dear, Ihave conceived the idea of connecting thee with myself, as thou wiltbe, if thy daughter, the wise and beautiful Hebron, accepts Tutmosisas husband."

  To this the worthy Antefa replied,--

  "Holiness, sovereign of the western world, and of living men! AsEgypt, and all that is in it belongs to thee, so this house and allits inhabitants are thy possession. Since it is thy desire that mydaughter should be the wife of thy favorite, let it be so."

  Now the pharaoh declared to Antefa that Tutmosis had twenty talents ofyearly salary, and considerable estates in various provinces.Thereupon the worthy Antefa declared that his daughter Hebron wouldhave fifty talents a year, also the right to make use of the estatesof her father in those provinces in which the pharaoh's courtsojourned for a season. And since he had no son, his immense property,which was free of debt, would pass to Tutmosis some time, togetherwith the office of nomarch of Thebes, in so far as that transfer mightcoincide with the will of the pharaoh.

  After concluding the conditions Tutmosis entered the court, thankedAntefa first for giving his daughter to one so unworthy, and second,because he had reared her so beautifully. It was arranged then thatthe ceremony of marriage would take place in a few days, sinceTutmosis, as leader of the guard, had no time for protractedpreliminaries.

  "I wish thee happiness, my son," said Antefa, smiling, "and also greatpatience, because my beloved daughter, now twenty years old, is thefirst exquisite in Thebes, and has had her will always. By the gods, Itell thee that my command over Thebes always ends at the gate of hergarden. And I fear that thy military command will go no farther."

  Next the noble Antefa invited his guests to a splendid banquet, in thecourse of which the beautiful Hebron showed herself with a greatretinue of damsels.

  In the dining-hall were numbers of small tables for two or fourpersons, also a larger table, on a loftier place, for the pharaoh. Toshow honor to Antefa and his favorite, Tutmosis, Rameses approachedHebron and invited her to his table.

  The young lady was really beautiful, and as it seemed had experience,a thing not exceptional in Egypt. Rameses soon noticed that thebetrothed turned no attention whatever toward Tutmosis, but to make upfor this she turned eloquent glances toward him, the pharaoh.

  That also was no wonder in Egypt.

  When the guests had taken their places, when music sounded and femaledancers began to bring fruit and wine to the tables, Rameses said toHebron,--

  "The longer I look at thee, the more I am astonished. Were somestranger to enter he might consider thee a high priestess or agoddess, but never a woman at the time of happy betrothal."

  "I am happy," said she, "at this moment, though not because ofbetrothal."

  "How is that?" interrupted the pharaoh.

  "Marriage does not entice me, and surely I should rather be the highpriestess of Isis than be married."

  "Then why marry?"

  "I marry because it is the absolute wish of my father to have an heirto his glory, but mainly because it is thy wish, my sovereign."

  "Can it be that Tutmosis does not please thee?"

  "I will not say that he does not please me. Tutmosis is fine-looking;he is the first exquisite in Egypt, he plays well, and takes prizes atgames. His position, as commander of thy guard, is one of the highest.Still, were it not for the prayers of my father, and thy command Ishould not marry Tutmosis. Even as it is, I shall not be his wife. Myproperty will suffice Tutmosis and the titles after my father; therest he can find among dancing girls."

  "But does he know of his misfortune?"

  Hebron smiled.

  "He knows this long time that even were I not the daughter of Antefa,but of the lowest dissector, I would not give myself to a man unless Iloved him. I could love only a man who is above me."

  "Art thou speaking seriously?" asked Rameses in wonder.

  "I am twenty years old. Since I was six years of age adorers havesurrounded me; but I measured them quickly. And to-day I would ratherhear learned priests than songs and declarations from youthfulexquisites."

  "In that case I ought not to sit near thee, Hebron, for I am not evenan exquisite, and I have no priestly wisdom whatever."

  "Thou art something higher," replied she, blushing deeply. "Thou art achief who has won victory. Thou art as impetuous as a lion, as swiftas a vulture. Millions fall on their faces before thee, and kingdomstremble. Do I not know what fear is roused by thy name in Tyre andNineveh? Gods might be jealous of thy influence."

  Rameses was confused.

  "O Hebron, Hebron," said he. "If thou knew what alarm thou art sowingin my heart."

  "For this very reason," continued Hebron, "I marry Tutmosis. I shallbe nearer thee, and shall see thee, though for a few days only."

  She rose and left the hall.

  Antefa noted her action and hastened in alarm to Rameses.

  "O lord!" cried he, "has my daughter said anything improper? She is anuntamable lioness!"

  "Be at rest," said Rameses. "Thy daughter is full of wisdom anddignity. She went out because she saw that thy wine was gladdening theguests rather powerfully."

  In fact a great uproar had risen in the hall, all the more sinceTutmosis, abandoning the role of assistant host, had become a mostanimated talker.

  "I will say to thee in confidence, holiness, that poor Tutmosis mustguard himself greatly in presence of my daughter," remarked Antefa.

  That first feast continued till morning. The pharaoh, it is true,departed immediately, but others remained, first in their chairs andthen on the floor. Finally Antefa had to send them home as if they hadbeen lifeless objects.

  The marriage ceremony took place some days later.

  To Antefa's palace went the high priests Herhor and Mefres, thenomarchs of the neighboring provinces, and the chief officials ofThebes. Later appeared Tutmosis on a two-wheeled chariot, attended byofficers of the guard, and finally his holiness, the pharaoh.

  Rameses was attended by the chief scribe, the commander of thearchers, the commander of the cavalry, the chief judge, the chieftreasurer, Sem the high priest, and the adjutant-generals.

  When that splendid assembly was in the hall of the ancestors of themost worthy Antefa, Hebron appeared in white robes with a numerousretinue of damsels and maids in attendance. Her father, after he hadburned incense before Amon and the statue of his own father, andRameses XIII., who was sitting on a raised platform, declared that hefreed his daughter Hebron from guardianship and provided her with adowry. Then he gave her, in a gold tube, a document securing herdowry, and written before the court on papyrus.

  After a short lunch the bride took her seat in a costly litter borneby eight officials of the province. Before her went music and singers;around the litter were dignitaries, and behind them an immense crowdof people. All this proc
ession moved toward the temple of Amon,through the most beautiful streets of the city, amid a throng ofpeople almost as numerous as that which had attended the funeral ofthe pharaoh.

  Avenue of Sphinxes from the Temple of Karnak to the Nile]

  At the temple the people remained outside the walls while the brideand groom, the pharaoh and dignitaries, entered the hall of columns.There Hebron burned incense before the veiled statue of Amon,priestesses performed a sacred dance, and Tutmosis read the followingact from a papyrus:

  "I, Tutmosis, commander of the guard of his holiness Rameses XIII.,take thee, Hebron, daughter of Antefa the nomarch of Thebes, as wife.I give thee now the sum of ten talents because thou hast consented tomarry me. For thy robes I designate to thee three talents yearly, andfor household expenses one talent a month. Of the children which wemay have the eldest son will be heir to the property which I possessnow and which I may acquire hereafter. If I should not live with thee,but divorce myself and take another wife, I shall be obliged to paythee forty talents, which sum I secure with my property. Our son, onreceiving his estate, is to pay thee fifteen talents yearly. Childrenof another wife are to have no right to the property of our first-bornson."[45]

  [45] Authentic.

  The chief judge appeared now and read an act in which the bridepromised to give good food and raiment to her husband, to care for hishouse, family, servants, slaves, and cattle, and to entrust to thathusband the management of the property which she had received or wouldreceive from her father.

  After the acts were read Herhor gave Tutmosis a goblet of wine. Thebridegroom drank half, the bride moistened her lips with it, and thenboth burned incense before the purple curtain.

  Leaving the temple of Amon the young couple and their splendid retinuepassed through the avenue of sphinxes to the pharaoh's palace. Crowdsof people and warriors greeted them with shouts, scattering flowers ontheir pathway.

  Tutmosis had dwelt up to that time in the chambers of the pharaoh, buton the day of his marriage Rameses presented him with a beautifullittle villa in the depth of the gardens, surrounded by a forest offig trees, myrtles and baobabs, where the bridegroom and bride mightpass days of happiness hidden from human eye, and cut off, as it were,from the world about them.

  In that quiet corner people showed themselves so rarely that evenbirds did not flee before them. When the young couple and the guestsfound themselves in this new dwelling the final ceremony of marriagefollowed:

  Tutmosis took Hebron by the hand and led her to a fire burning beforea statue of Isis; then Mefres poured a spoonful of holy water on thelady's head; Hebron touched the fire with her hand, while Tutmosisdivided a morsel of bread with her and placed his own ring on herfinger in sign that from that time forth she was mistress of his land,his servants, his slaves and cattle.

  Meanwhile the priests sang wedding hymns and bore the statue of thedivine Isis through the whole house; and priestesses performed sacreddances.

  The day ended with spectacles and a great feast, during which allnoticed that Hebron accompanied the pharaoh continually, and thatTutmosis kept at a distance from her, and simply entertained guests atthe wedding.

  When the stars had risen the holy Herhor left the feast, and soonafter some of the highest dignitaries slipped out also. About midnightthe following worthy persons met in a subterranean chamber of thetemple of Amon: the high priests Herhor, Mefres, and Mentezufis, thechief judge of Thebes, also the chiefs of the provinces of Abs, Horti,and Emsuch.

  Mentezufis looked around among the great columns, closed the door,quenched the torches, and in that lower chamber there remained onlyone light, that which burned before a statue of Horus. The dignitariessat down on three stone benches.

  "If I were commanded to describe the character of Rameses XIII.," saidthe nomarch of Abs, "I should be unable to do so."

  "He is a maniac!" said Mefres.

  "I do not know that he is a maniac," answered Herhor, "but he is verydangerous in every case. Already Assyria has reminded us twice of thelast treaty, and is beginning, I hear, to be alarmed at the arming ofEgypt."

  "That is of less importance," said Mefres; "there is something worse,for this godless man is thinking to violate the treasure of thelabyrinth."

  "But I should consider," said the nomarch of Emsuch, "that hispromises to the people are the worst. Our income and that of the statewill be shattered if the common people are idle one day in seven. Butif the pharaoh gives them land in addition?"

  "He is ready to do that," said the chief judge in a whisper.

  "Is he ready?" asked the nomarch of Horti. "It seems to me that hemerely wants money. If we should give him something from thelabyrinth--"

  "Impossible," interrupted Herhor. "The state is not threatened bydanger, but the pharaoh is, and that is not the same question. Irepeat that as a dam is strong only while it is not penetrated by thetiniest stream of water, so the labyrinth is full till we touch thefirst block of gold in it. After that, all will go. Finally, whom dowe strengthen by the treasures of the gods and of Egypt? This youngman who despises religion, belittles priests, and disturbs the people.Is he not worse than Assar? Assar is a barbarian, but he does not harmus."

  "It is improper for the pharaoh to pay court to his favorite's wife soopenly on the very day of the marriage," said the judge, thoughtfully.

  "Hebron herself entices him," said the nomarch of Horti.

  "All women entice men," answered the nomarch of Emsuch. "Sense,however, is given a man to avoid sin."

  "But is not the pharaoh husband to all the women of Egypt?" whisperedthe nomarch of Abs. "Moreover, sin is under the judgment of the gods,while we are occupied only with Egypt."

  "He is dangerous! he is dangerous!" said the nomarch of Emsuch, whilehis hands and head trembled. "There is no doubt that the common peoplehave become insolent and may rise any moment. In that case no highpriest or nomarch would be sure of his life, not to mention his officeand property."

  "Against an uprising we have means," replied Herhor.

  "What means?"

  "First of all," answered Mefres, "we can avoid an uprising if weexplain to the wisest among common people that he who makes thempromises is a maniac."

  "He is one of the soundest men under the sun," whispered the nomarchof Horti. "All that we need is to learn what he wishes."

  "He is a maniac! a maniac!" repeated Mefres. "His own brother imagineshimself a monkey, and drinks with dissectors. Rameses may act in thesame fashion any day."

  "It is awkward and evil to declare a man of sound mind a maniac," saidthe nomarch of Horti. "For if people see the falsehood they will ceaseto believe in us, and nothing will restrain an uprising."

  "If I say that Rameses is a maniac it must be that I have proof,"replied Mefres. "And now listen."

  The dignitaries moved on their benches.

  "Tell me," continued Mefres, "would a man of sound mind, heir to thethrone of Egypt, dare to fight in public against a bull in presence ofso many thousands of Asiatics? Would a prince of sound judgment, anEgyptian, wander into a Phoenician temple during night hours? Wouldhe, without cause, reduce to the rank of slaves his first woman, anact which caused her death and the death of her infant?"

  Those present murmured in fear.

  "All this we have seen in Pi-Bast. Mentezufis and I were witnesses ofdrinking feasts, at which the half-demented heir blasphemed againstthe gods and insulted the priesthood."

  "That is true," said Mentezufis.

  "And what do ye think," continued Mefres, with greater heat, "would aman of sound mind, the leader of an army, leave his troops to chaseafter a few Libyan bandits? I pass over a number of smaller things,even the idea of giving the people land and a holiday; could I saythat a man was of sound mind who committed so many criminalabsurdities without cause, just at random?"

  Those present were silent; the nomarch of Horti was troubled.

  "It is necessary to think over this," added the chief judge, "lestinjustice be done him."


  Here Herhor spoke.

  "Holy Mefres has done him a kindness," said he, in low decisive tones,"by considering him a maniac. Unless he is a maniac we must call him atraitor."

  Those present moved with fear.

  "Yes, the man called Rameses XIII. is a traitor, for not only does heselect spies and robbers to discover the way to the treasures of thelabyrinth, not only does he reject the treaty with Assyria, whichEgypt needs absolutely--"

  "Grievous accusations," said the judge.

  "But listen to me further: he is negotiating with villainousPhoenicians to cut a canal between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.This canal is the greatest danger for Egypt, since our country mightbe inundated by water in one moment. It is not a question here of thetreasures of the labyrinth, but of our temples, houses, fields, sixmillions of people, foolish, it is true, but innocent, and finally ofour own lives and the lives of our children."

  "If that is the case--" sighed the nomarch of Horti.

  "I and the worthy Mefres pledge ourselves that it is the case, andthat this one man has gathered into his hands more dangers than haveever yet threatened Egypt. Hence we have brought you here to providemeans of rescue. But we must act quickly, for the plans of this manadvance like a storm in a desert and may overwhelm every one of us."

  For a moment there was silence in the dark chamber.

  "What is to be done at present?" asked the nomarch of Emsuch. "We livein our provinces far from the court, and not only do we not know theplans of this madman, but we cannot even divine them, we can hardlybelieve that they exist. I think it is best therefore to leave thisaffair with thee, worthy Herhor, and with Mefres. Ye have discoveredthe disease, provide the remedy and act. But if the greatness ofresponsibility alarms you, associate with yourselves the supreme judgeas assistant."

  "Yes! yes! he speaks truth," confirmed the indignant officials.

  Mentezufis lighted a torch and placed on a table before the statue ofthe god a papyrus on which was written an act of the followingcontents: In view of dangers threatening the state, the power of thesecret council passes into the hands of Herhor with whom areassociated as assistants the supreme judge and Mefres.

  This act, confirmed by the signatures of the dignitaries present, wasenclosed in a tube and concealed in a secret place beneath the altar.

  In addition, each one of the seven associates bound himself under oathto attract to the conspiracy ten dignitaries. Herhor promised to bringproof that Assyria was insisting on the treaty, and that the pharaohdid not wish to sign it, that he was negotiating with Phoenicians todig the canal, and that he intended to enter the labyrinthtreacherously.

  "My life and honor are in your hands," concluded Herhor. "If what Ihave said is untrue condemn me to death, and have my body burnedafterward."

  No one doubted now that the high priest spoke the pure truth; for noEgyptian would expose his body to burning and his soul to destruction.

  Tutmosis spent a few days after the wedding in company with Hebron, inthe palace given him by his holiness. But every evening he went to thebarracks of the guard, where with officers and dancers he passed thenights very pleasantly.

  From this conduct his comrades divined that he had married Hebron onlyfor her dowry; this, however, did not astonish any one.

  After five days Tutmosis announced to the pharaoh that he was ready toresume his duties. Thenceforth he visited his wife only in thedaytime, the nights he passed near his lord's chamber.

  One evening the pharaoh said to him,--

  "This palace has so many corners for watching and listening that everyact of mine is noted. My revered mother is addressed again by thosemysterious voices which ceased in Memphis after I dismissed thepriesthood. I cannot receive therefore any one in my own chamber, butmust leave the palace and take counsel with my servants in a safeplace."

  "Am I to follow thee, holiness?" inquired Tutmosis, seeing that thepharaoh was looking around for his mantle.

  "No; thou must stay here and see that no one enters my chamber. Admitno person, not even my mother, not even the shade of my ever-livingfather. Thou wilt say that I am asleep and will see no one."

  "It will be as thou hast said," replied Tutmosis, putting on his lorda hooded mantle. Then he quenched the light in the bedchamber andRameses went out through side passages.

  When he was in the garden Rameses stopped and looked on all sides withattention. Then, taking bearings, he started quickly toward the villawhich he had given Tutmosis. After he had walked some minutes in ashady alley a man stood before him and inquired,--

  "Who goes?"

  "Nubia," answered the pharaoh.

  "Libya," said the inquirer, and pushed back suddenly, as iffrightened.

  The man was an officer of the guard. The pharaoh looked at him, andsaid,--

  "Ah, this is Eunana! What art thou doing in this place?"

  "I am going around the gardens; I do so a couple of times nightly, forthieves steal in sometimes."

  "Thou dost wisely. But remember the first duty of an officer of theguard is silence. Drive the thief out, but if thou meet a man inoffice seize him not, be silent, be silent always. Even if the highpriest Herhor were in question."

  "Oh lord!" exclaimed Eunana, "but command me not to do homage in thenight to Herhor, or to Mefres. I am not sure that my sword at sight ofthem would not spring of itself from the scabbard."

  Rameses smiled.

  "Thy sword is mine," replied he, "and it may leave the scabbard onlywhen I give the order." He nodded to Eunana and passed on.

  After wandering a quarter of an hour by paths intended to mislead, thepharaoh found himself near a secret gate in a thicket. It seemed tohim that he heard a rustle, and he said in a low voice,--

  "Hebron!"

  A figure, also in a dark mantle, ran out, rushed at Rameses and clungto his neck, whispering,--

  "Is it thou? is it thou? Oh, how long I have waited!"

  The pharaoh felt that she was slipping from his embrace, so he tookher in his arms and carried her to an arbor. At that moment the mantlefell from his shoulders; he dragged it for a while, but at lastdropped it.

  Next day the revered lady Nikotris summoned Tutmosis. The favorite ofthe pharaoh was frightened when he looked at her. The queen wasterribly pale, her eyes were sunken and she was almost demented.

  "Sit down!" said she, indicating a stool near her armchair.

  Tutmosis hesitated.

  "Sit down! And--and swear that thou wilt repeat to no one what I tellthee."

  "By the shade of my father, I will not."

  "Hear me," said the queen in a low voice; "I have been almost a motherto thee. Wert thou to betray this secret the gods would punish thee.No--they would only cast on thy head a part of those misfortunes whichare hanging over my family."

  Tutmosis listened with astonishment.

  "Is she mad?" thought he with fear.

  "Look at that window," continued the queen; "look at that tree. Dostthou know whom I saw last night on that tree outside the window?"

  "Could the brother of his holiness have come to Thebes?"

  "It was not he," whispered she, sobbing. "It was my Rameses himself."

  "On the tree? Last night?"

  "Yes. The light of the lamp fell on his face and figure perfectly. Hehad a coat in white and blue stripes, his eyes were wandering--helaughed wildly, like his unfortunate brother, and said, 'Look at me,mother, I am able to fly now, a thing that neither Seti, nor Ramesesthe Great, nor Cheops could do. See what wings are growing out on me!'He stretched his hands toward me, and I, unconscious from sorrow,touched his hands through the window and his face, covered with coldperspiration. At last he slipped down the tree and vanished."

  Tutmosis listened in terror. All at once he struck his forehead.

  "That was not Rameses," said he with decision. "That was a man verylike him, that villain, the Greek Lykon, who killed Sarah's son, andwho is now under control of the high priests. That was not Rameses.This is a crime of Herhor and Mefres,
those wretches."

  Hope gleamed on the queen's face, but only for a moment.

  "How could I fail to recognize my son?"

  "Lykon is very like him," answered Tutmosis. "This is a trick of thepriests. They are infamous! For them death is too slight apunishment."

  "Did the pharaoh sleep at home last night?" inquired the lady.

  Tutmosis was confused and dropped his eyes.

  "So he did not sleep at home?"

  "He did," answered the favorite with an uncertain voice.

  "That is not true. But tell me, at least, did he not wear a coat withwhite and blue stripes?"

  "I do not remember," whispered Tutmosis.

  "Thou art telling untruth again. And this mantle, tell me if this isnot my son's mantle? My slave found it on that same tree, in thebranches."

  The queen sprang up and brought from a case a brown, hooded mantle.Tutmosis remembered that the pharaoh had returned after midnightwithout his mantle and even explained to him that he had lost itsomewhere in the garden. He hesitated, meditated, but at last answeredwith decision,--

  "No, queen, that was not the pharaoh. That was Lykon, and this is acrime of the priests which I must report to his holiness straightway."

  "But if that were Rameses?" inquired the lady again, though in hereyes a spark of hope was now evident.

  Tutmosis was troubled. His conclusion that it was Lykon was wise andmight be true, but indications were not lacking that the queen hadseen Rameses. It was certain that he had returned to his chamber aftermidnight; he wore a tunic with white and blue stripes, he had losthis mantle. It was true that his brother was demented, and, moreover,could a mother's heart deceive her?

  And doubts rose in the soul of Tutmosis, intricate and involved as anest of poisonous reptiles. Luckily in proportion as his doubtsincreased hope entered the heart of Nikotris.

  "It is well that thou hast reminded me of that Lykon," said she. "Iremember. Through him Mefres accused Rameses of child murder, andto-day he may use the wretch to defame his sovereign. In this case nota word to any one of what I have told thee. If Rameses--if in truth heis subject to such a misfortune, it may be temporary. We must nothumiliate him by mentioning such reports, we must not inform him. Ifthis is a plot of the priests we must also be cautious. Though peoplewho use such deceit cannot be powerful."

  "I will investigate this," interrupted Tutmosis, "but if I convincemyself--"

  "Do not inform Rameses--I implore thee by the shade of thy father!"exclaimed the queen, clasping her hands. "The pharaoh would notforgive them, he would deliver them to judgment, and then one of twomisfortunes would happen. Either the supreme priests of the statewould be condemned to death, or the court would free them. And thenwhat? But pursue Lykon and slay him without mercy, like a wildbeast--like a reptile."

  Tutmosis took farewell of the queen. She was pacified, though hisfears had grown greater.

  "If that villainous Greek, Lykon, is living yet, despite imprisonmentby the priests," thought he, "he would prefer flight to climbing treesand showing himself to the queen. I myself would facilitate hisescape, and cover him with wealth if he would tell the truth and seekprotection against those wretches. But whence came the mantle? Howdeceive the mother?"

  From that time Tutmosis avoided the pharaoh, and dared not look him inthe eyes, while Rameses himself acted strangely, so their heartfeltrelations seemed to grow cold somewhat.

  But one evening the pharaoh summoned his favorite a second time.

  "I must speak with Hiram," said he, "on questions of importance. I amgoing out. Watch here at my chamber, and if any man wishes to see medo not admit him."

  When the pharaoh vanished in the secret corridors Tutmosis was seizedby alarm.

  "Maybe," thought he, "the priests have poisoned him to produceinsanity; and he, feeling that an attack is coming, flees from his ownpalace? Ha! we shall see!"

  In fact he did see. The pharaoh returned well after midnight to hischambers, and had a mantle; it was not his own, however, but asoldier's.

  Tutmosis was alarmed and did not sleep till morning, thinking that thequeen would summon him again on a sudden. The queen did not summonhim, however. But during the morning review of the guard, the officerEunana begged to speak with his chief for a moment.

  When they were alone in a chamber Eunana fell at the feet of Tutmosisand implored the chief not to repeat what he was going to tell him.

  "What has happened?" inquired the adjutant, feeling cold in his heart.

  "Chief," said Eunana, "yesterday I saw a man running in the gardennaked, and crying in an unearthly voice. He was brought in to me, and,chief--slay me!"

  Eunana fell again at the feet of Tutmosis.

  "That naked man--that-- I cannot tell."

  "Who was he?" inquired the terrified Tutmosis.

  "I will not tell!" groaned Eunana. "I took off my mantle and coveredsacred nakedness. I wanted to take him to the palace--but--I--the lordcommanded me to stay where I was, and be silent--be silent!"

  "Whither did he go?"

  "I know not. I did not look, and I did not let the warriors look. Hevanished somewhere among the bushes of the garden. I told my men notto see anything, not to hear anything; that if any man saw or heardanything he would be strangled that instant."

  Tutmosis had succeeded in mastering himself.

  "I know nothing," said he, coldly, "and understand nothing of whatthou hast said to me. But remember one thing: I myself ran naked oncewhen I had drunk too much wine, and I gave a good reward to those whofailed to see me. Common people, Eunana, and laborers always go naked;great persons only when it may please them. And if the wish shouldcome to me or any of the officials to stand head downward, a wise andpious officer should not wonder at my action."

  "I understand," replied Eunana, looking into the eyes of his chiefquickly. "And not only will I repeat that to my warriors, but I willeven go naked this night through the garden to let them know thatsuperiors have the right to do whatever pleases them."

  Still, notwithstanding the small number of men who had seen thepharaoh or his counterfeit in a state of insanity, the reports ofthese strange happenings circulated everywhere very quickly. In a fewdays all the inhabitants of Thebes, from dissectors and water-carriersto scribes and merchants, whispered that Rameses XIII. was affectedwith the disease which had deprived his older brothers of succession.

  Dread of the pharaoh and honor for him were so great that peoplefeared to speak openly, especially before strangers. Still, all heardof it--all save Rameses.

  But most peculiar was this, that the report went around the wholekingdom very speedily; a proof that it circulated by means of thetemples. For priests alone possessed the power of communicating in afew hours from one end of Egypt to the other.

  No one mentioned these disagreeable tidings to Tutmosis directly, butthe chief of the pharaoh's guard felt their existence everywhere. Fromthe bearing of people with whom circumstances brought him in contacthe divined that the servants, the slaves, the warriors, the purveyorsof the court were discussing the insanity of the pharaoh, and weresilent only when some superior might overhear them.

  At last Tutmosis, impatient and alarmed, decided on a conversationwith the Theban nomarch.

  On arriving at the palace of his father-in-law he found Antefa lyingon a sofa in a room, one half of which was filled with rare plantslike a garden. In the centre played a fountain of water perfumed withroses; in the corners of the room were statues of gods; on the wallswere depicted the deeds of the renowned nomarch. Standing near hishead was a black slave who cooled his master with an ostrich featherfan; on the pavement sat the scribe of the province reading a reportto him.

  Tutmosis had such an anxious face that the nomarch dismissed thescribe and the slave straightway; then rising from the couch he lookedtoward every corner of the chamber to be sure that no one overheardthem.

  "Worthy father of Lady Hebron, my revered wife," said Tutmosis, "fromthy bearing I see that thou divinest the subject of w
hich I wish tospeak."

  "The nomarch of Thebes must always look ahead," replied Antefa. "Idivine also that the commander of the guard of his holiness would nothonor me by a visit for a frivolous reason."

  For a moment they looked each other in the eyes. Then Tutmosis took aseat at the side of his father-in-law, and whispered,--

  "Hast thou heard vile reports about our sovereign, which the enemiesof the state are spreading?"

  "If it be a question of my daughter Hebron," replied the nomarchquickly, "I declare that thou art her lord to-day, and canst have noquestion with me."

  Tutmosis waved his hand with indifference.

  "Some vile persons are reporting that the pharaoh is insane. Hastheard of this, my father?"

  Antefa nodded and turned his head--motions which meant equally that hehad, or that he had not. At last he said,--

  "Stupidity is as great as the ocean; everything finds a place in it."

  "This is not stupidity," replied Tutmosis, "but a crime of thepriests, who have in their possession a man who resembles hisholiness, and they make use of him for evil purposes." And he told thenomarch the story of the Greek Lykon, and his crime in Pi-Bast.

  "I have heard of this Lykon who killed the son of the heir," saidAntefa. "But hast thou proof that Mefres imprisoned Lykon in Pi-Bast,that he brought him to Thebes, and that he lets him enter the gardensof the pharaoh to counterfeit the sovereign as insane?"

  "Just because I have not proof of this do I ask thee, worthiness, whatto do. I am the commander of the guard and I must watch over the honorand safety of our sovereign."

  "'What thou must do?'" repeated Antefa. "Well, first of all take carethat these vile reports do not reach the ears of the pharaoh."

  "Why?"

  "Because a great misfortune would happen. If our lord hears that Lykonfeigns insanity and pretends to be the pharaoh, he will fall intoterrible anger. Naturally he will direct that anger against Herhor andMefres. Maybe he will only abuse them in words, maybe he will imprisonthem, maybe he will kill them. Whatever he does, he will do it withoutproof, and what then? Egypt at present does not care to give offeringsto the gods, but it will take the part of priests injured withoutreason. And what then? Well," added he, approaching his lips toTutmosis' ear, "I think it would be the end of the dynasty."

  "What am I to do?"

  "One thing!" exclaimed Antefa. "Find Lykon, prove that Mefres andHerhor secreted him, and ordered him to counterfeit the pharaoh asinsane. Thou must do this, if thou wish to keep the favor of thysovereign. Proofs--as many proofs as possible! Egypt is not Assyria;thou canst not act against high priests without the court, and nocourt will condemn them without tangible evidence. Where hast thou thecertainty that some one did not give the pharaoh an intoxicatingpotion? That would be simpler than to send out a man at night whoknows neither the watchword, nor the palace, nor the garden. I haveheard of Lykon from an authentic source, for I heard from Hiram.Still, I do not understand how Lykon could perform such miracles inThebes."

  "But--but--" interrupted Tutmosis, "where is Hiram?"

  "Immediately after the wedding he went to Memphis, and in these lastdays he was in Hiten."

  Tutmosis again was in trouble: "That night," thought he, "when theytook a naked man to Eunana, the pharaoh said that he was going to seeHiram. But as Hiram was not in Thebes, then what? Well, his holinessknew not at the moment that of which he himself was talking."

  Tutmosis returned home dazed. Not only did he fail to understand whathe was to do in that unheard-of position, but even he knew not what tothink of the position itself. His conviction while conversing withNikotris, that Lykon, the emissary of high priests, had appeared inthe garden, was equalled now by his doubts as to whether the Greek hadbeen there at all.

  And if this was the case with Tutmosis the favorite, who saw Ramesesat all times, what must it be in the hearts of strangers. The mostdevoted adherents of the pharaoh and his measures might hesitate onhearing from all sides that their sovereign was demented.

  This was the first blow which the priests gave Rameses XIII. Slight initself, it involved results which were beyond reckoning.

  Not only did Tutmosis hesitate, he suffered. Under a frivolousexterior he had a character at once energetic and noble. So that day,when men struck at the honor and power of his sovereign, inactivitywas devouring Tutmosis. He seemed to himself the commander of afortress which the enemy was undermining, while he himself was lookingon in helplessness. This thought so tortured him that under itsinfluence he fell upon a daring plan. Meeting the high priest Sem, hesaid to him,--

  "Worthiness, hast thou heard the reports about our sovereign?"

  "The pharaoh is young, hence various scandals may circulate concerninghim," replied Sem, looking strangely at Tutmosis. "But such affairspertain not to me; I take the place of his holiness in the service ofthe gods; I fulfil that office as I know best, and have no care forother questions."

  "I know, worthiness, that thou art a faithful servant of the pharaoh,"said Tutmosis, "and I have no thought of interfering with priestlysecrets; I must turn thy attention, however, to one trifle. I havelearned that holy Mefres holds a certain Lykon, a Greek, on whom twocrimes are weighing: he murdered the pharaoh's son, and besides helooks like his holiness. Let the worthy Mefres not bring disgrace onthe revered priestly order; let him yield the murderer to justice atthe earliest; for if we find Lykon, I swear that Mefres will lose nothis office alone, but his head also. In our kingdom it is notpermitted to patronize murderers and secrete men who resemble thesovereign."

  Sem, in whose presence Mefres had taken Lykon from the police, wasconfused out of fear perhaps that he might be suspected ofco-operation, still he answered,--

  "I will try to forewarn holy Mefres of these suspicions. But thouknowest, worthiness, how people answer who attribute crimes toothers."

  "I know and assume responsibility. I am so certain of my case that Ihave no concern as to the result of my suspicions. Alarm I leave toholy Mefres; I trust that he will not force me to pass from warning toenergetic action."

  The conversation had its result: from that day forth no man ever sawthe counterfeit of the pharaoh. But reports did not cease; RamesesXIII., however, knew nothing of them; Tutmosis feared violent actionof the pharaoh against the priests, hence gave him no information.