The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 149

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

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

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

"It is awkward and evil to declare a man of sound mind a maniac," said the nomarch of Horti. "For if people see the falsehood they will cease to 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 the throne of Egypt, dare to fight in public against a bull in presence of so many thousands of Asiatics? Would a prince of sound judgment, an Egyptian, wander into a Phnician temple during night hours? Would he, without cause, reduce to the rank of slaves his first woman, an act 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 of drinking feasts, at which the half-demented heir blasphemed against the G.o.ds and insulted the priesthood."

"That is true," said Mentezufis.

"And what do ye think," continued Mefres, with greater heat, "would a man of sound mind, the leader of an army, leave his troops to chase after a few Libyan bandits? I pa.s.s over a number of smaller things, even the idea of giving the people land and a holiday; could I say that a man was of sound mind who committed so many criminal absurdities 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, "lest injustice 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 a traitor."

Those present moved with fear.

"Yes, the man called Rameses XIII. is a traitor, for not only does he select spies and robbers to discover the way to the treasures of the labyrinth, not only does he reject the treaty with a.s.syria, which Egypt needs absolutely--"

"Grievous accusations," said the judge.

"But listen to me further: he is negotiating with villainous Phnicians to cut a ca.n.a.l between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

This ca.n.a.l is the greatest danger for Egypt, since our country might be inundated by water in one moment. It is not a question here of the treasures of the labyrinth, but of our temples, houses, fields, six millions of people, foolish, it is true, but innocent, and finally of our 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, and that this one man has gathered into his hands more dangers than have ever yet threatened Egypt. Hence we have brought you here to provide means of rescue. But we must act quickly, for the plans of this man advance 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 live in our provinces far from the court, and not only do we not know the plans of this madman, but we cannot even divine them, we can hardly believe that they exist. I think it is best therefore to leave this affair with thee, worthy Herhor, and with Mefres. Ye have discovered the disease, provide the remedy and act. But if the greatness of responsibility alarms you, a.s.sociate with yourselves the supreme judge as a.s.sistant."

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

Mentezufis lighted a torch and placed on a table before the statue of the G.o.d a papyrus on which was written an act of the following contents: In view of dangers threatening the state, the power of the secret council pa.s.ses into the hands of Herhor with whom are a.s.sociated as a.s.sistants the supreme judge and Mefres.

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

In addition, each one of the seven a.s.sociates bound himself under oath to attract to the conspiracy ten dignitaries. Herhor promised to bring proof that a.s.syria was insisting on the treaty, and that the pharaoh did not wish to sign it, that he was negotiating with Phnicians to dig the ca.n.a.l, and that he intended to enter the labyrinth treacherously.

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

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

Tutmosis spent a few days after the wedding in company with Hebron, in the palace given him by his holiness. But every evening he went to the barracks of the guard, where with officers and dancers he pa.s.sed the nights very pleasantly.

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

After five days Tutmosis announced to the pharaoh that he was ready to resume his duties. Thenceforth he visited his wife only in the daytime, the nights he pa.s.sed near his lord's chamber.

One evening the pharaoh said to him,--

"This palace has so many corners for watching and listening that every act of mine is noted. My revered mother is addressed again by those mysterious voices which ceased in Memphis after I dismissed the priesthood. I cannot receive therefore any one in my own chamber, but must leave the palace and take counsel with my servants in a safe place."

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

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

"It will be as thou hast said," replied Tutmosis, putting on his lord a hooded mantle. Then he quenched the light in the bedchamber and Rameses went out through side pa.s.sages.

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

"Who goes?"

"Nubia," answered the pharaoh.

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

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

"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, for thieves steal in sometimes."

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

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

Rameses smiled.

"Thy sword is mine," replied he, "and it may leave the scabbard only when I give the order." He nodded to Eunana and pa.s.sed on.

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