The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 135

There were chariots, boats, beds, tables, caskets, and thrones gold or covered with gold plate, also inlaid with ivory, mother-of-pearl and colored wood so ornamentally that artists must have worked tens of years at them. There were weapons, shields and quivers glittering with jewels. There were pitchers, plates, and spoons of pure gold, costly robes, and baldachins.

All this treasure, thanks to dry and pure air, was preserved without change during ages.

Among rare objects the pharaoh saw the silver model of the a.s.syrian palace brought to Rameses XII. by Sargon. The high priest, while explaining to the pharaoh whence each gift came, looked at his face diligently. But in place of admiration for the treasures, he noticed dissatisfaction.

"Tell me, worthiness," inquired Rameses on a sudden, "what good comes of these treasures shut up in darkness?"

"Should Egypt be in danger there would be great power in them,"

replied the overseer. "For a few of these helmets, chariots and swords we might buy the good-will of all the a.s.syrian satraps. And maybe even King a.s.sar himself would not resist if we gave him furniture for his throne hall, or his a.r.s.enal."

"I think that they would rather take all from us by the sword than a few through good-will," said the pharaoh.

"Let them try!" replied the priest.

"I understand. Ye have then means of destroying the treasures. But in that case no one could make use of them."

"That is not a question for my mind," replied the overseer. "We guard what is given to us, and do what is ordered."

"Would it not be better to use a portion of these treasures to fill the coffers of the state and raise Egypt from the misery in which it is at present?" asked the pharaoh.

"That does not depend on us."

Rameses frowned. He examined things for some time without very great interest; at last he inquired,--

"Yes, these products of art might be useful in gaining the good-will of a.s.syrian dignitaries; but if war were to break out with a.s.syria how could we get wheat, men, and arms from nations which have no knowledge of rare objects?"

"Open the treasury," said the high priest.

At this time the priests hurried in different directions: two vanished as if in the interior of columns, while a third went up along the wall on steps and did something near a carved figure.

Again a hidden door slipped aside and Rameses entered the real hall of treasure.

That was a s.p.a.cious room filled with priceless objects. In it were earthen jars containing gold dust, lumps of gold piled up like bricks, and ingots of gold in packages. Blocks of silver stored at one side formed, as it were, a wall two ells thick and as high as the ceiling.

In niches and on stone tables lay precious stones of every color: rubies, topazes, emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, pearls as large as nuts and even as birds' eggs. There were single jewels which equalled a town in value.

"This is our property in case of misfortune," said the overseer.

"For what misfortune are ye waiting?" inquired the pharaoh. "The people are poor, the n.o.bility and the court are in debt, the army decreased one half, the pharaoh without money. Has Egypt ever been in a worse position?"

"It was in a worse position when the Hyksos conquered it."

"In a few years," replied Rameses, "even the Israelites will conquer this country unless the Libyans and Ethiopians precede them. And then these beautiful stones, broken into pieces, will go to ornament the sandals of black men and Hebrews."

"Be at rest, holiness. In case of need not only the treasure itself, but the labyrinth would vanish without a trace, together with its guardians."

Rameses understood thoroughly that he had before him fanatics who thought only of this: not to let any one possess that treasure. He sat down on a pile of gold bricks, and continued,--

"Then ye are preserving this property for evil days in Egypt?"

"Thou speakest truth, holiness."

"But who will convince you, its guardians, that those days have come when they are really present?"

"To do that it would be necessary to call an extraordinary a.s.sembly of Egyptians, an a.s.sembly made up of the pharaoh, thirteen priests of the highest degree, thirteen nomarchs, thirteen n.o.bles, thirteen officers, and thirteen of each of the following: merchants, artisans, and earth-tillers."

"Then ye would give to such an a.s.sembly the treasures?" asked the pharaoh.

"We would give the necessary sum if the whole a.s.sembly, as one man, decided that Egypt was in danger, and--"

"And what?"

"If the statue of Amon in Thebes confirmed that decision."

Rameses dropped his head as if to hide his great satisfaction.

He had a plan ready.

"I shall be able to collect such an a.s.sembly and incline it to unanimity," thought the pharaoh. "Also it seems to me the divine statue of Amon will confirm the decision if I put my Asiatics around it."

"I thank you, pious men," said he aloud, "for showing me these precious things, the great value of which does not prevent me from being one among the poorest of sovereigns. And now I beg you to lead me hence by the shortest way possible and the most convenient."

"We wish thee, holiness, to double the wealth of the labyrinth. As to the road, there is only one, we must return as we came."

One of the priests gave Rameses dates, another a flask of wine mixed with some invigorating substance. Then the pharaoh recovered strength and went forward cheerfully.

"I would give much," said he, laughing, "to know all the turns of this wonderful pa.s.sage."

The guiding priest stopped,--

"I a.s.sure thee, holiness, that we ourselves do not understand or remember this road, though each one of us has entered a number of times by it."

"Then how do ye manage?"

"We have certain indications, but if one of these were to fail us, even at this moment we should die here of hunger."

They reached the antechamber at last and through it the courtyard.

Rameses looked around and drew one breath of relief after another.

"For all the treasures of the labyrinth I would not guard them!" cried he. "Terror falls on my breast when I think that it is possible to die in those stone prisons."

"But it is possible to grow attached to them," replied the priest smiling.

The pharaoh thanked each of his guides, and concluded,--

"I should be glad to show you some favor; ask for one."

The priests listened with indifference, and their chief answered,--