The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 153

"Right-believing Egyptians, my good servants," said the pharaoh with perfect freedom. "Ye have carried out my command, and my favor is with you; for two days ye will be guests in my house. Ye will receive presents and return to your houses and labors. Peace and blessings be with you."

When he had said this he left the hall with his suite. The high priests Herhor and Mefres gazed with a look of alarm at each other.

"He is not troubled in any way," whispered Herhor.

"Ah, I said that he is a raging wild beast," replied Mefres. "He will not hesitate at violence, and if we do not antic.i.p.ate--"

"The G.o.ds will defend us and our dwellings."

In the evening the most faithful servants of Rameses XIII. a.s.sembled in his chamber: the chief treasurer, the chief scribe, Tutmosis, and Kalippos, the commander-in-chief of the Greek forces.

"O lord," groaned the treasurer, "why not act like thy eternally living ancestors. If the delegates had spoken openly we should now have a right to the treasure in the labyrinth."

"His worthiness speaks the truth," put in the chief scribe.

The pharaoh shook his head.

"Ye are mistaken. If all Egypt cried, 'give the funds in the labyrinth,' the priests would not give them."

"Then why disturb the priests by summoning delegates? This royal act has stirred them greatly, and given insolence to common men, who to-day are like a rising deluge."

"I have no fear of this deluge," said the pharaoh. "My regiments will be dams against it. The advantage of this delegation is evident, since it shows the weakness of my opponents: eighty-three for us, eight against us. It proves that if they can count on one corps I can rely on ten. Yield not to illusions; between me and the high priests war has begun already. They are the fortress which we have summoned to surrender. They have refused; we must storm the fortress."

"Live forever!" cried Tutmosis and Kalippos.

"Command us," said the chief scribe.

"This is my will," said Rameses. "Thou, O treasurer, wilt distribute one hundred talents among the police, the overseers of the laborers, and the mayors in the provinces of Seft, Neha-Chent, Neha-Pechu, Sebt-Het, Aa, Ament, and Ka. In those same places you will give the innkeepers and the keepers of dramshops barley, wheat, and wine, whatever is at hand, so that common men may have meat and drink free of charge. Ye will do this immediately, so that there be supplies wherever needed till the 23d of Paofi."

The treasurer inclined to the pavement.

"Thou, scribe, wilt write and command to-morrow to herald forth in the streets of provincial capitals that barbarians of the western desert are advancing in great force to attack the province of Fayum.

Thou, Kalippos, wilt despatch four Greek regiments southward. Two of these will halt at the labyrinth, two will push on to Hanes. If troops of the priests go from Thebes ye will drive them back and not let them approach Fayum. If people are indignant at the priests and threaten the labyrinth, thy Greeks will occupy the edifice."

"But if the overseers of the labyrinth refuse?" inquired Kalippos.

"That would be rebellion," answered the pharaoh, and continued,--

"Thou, Tutmosis, wilt send three regiments to Memphis and post them near the temples of Ptah, Isis, and Horus. If the enraged people wish to storm the temples the commanders of the regiments will open the gates to themselves, will not admit common men to the holy places, and will guarantee the persons of the high priests from insult. There will be priests in the labyrinth and in the temples of Memphis, who will come forth to the army with green branches. The commanders of regiments will ask those men for the pa.s.sword and will counsel with them."

"But if they resist?" inquired Tutmosis.

"Only rebels would refuse to obey commanders of the pharaoh," answered Rameses. "The temples and the labyrinth must be occupied by troops on the 23d of Paofi," continued the pharaoh, turning to the chief scribe.

"The people both in Memphis and Fayum may begin to a.s.semble on the 18th, at first in small groups, then in increasing numbers. But if slight disturbances begin about the 20th, they are not to be prevented. The people are to storm the temples not earlier than the 22d and 23d. And when troops occupy those points all must be quieted."

"Would it not be better to imprison Herhor and Mefres at once?"

inquired Tutmosis.

"What for? I am not concerned about them, but the labyrinth and the temples, for the occupation of which troops are not ready yet.

Besides, Hiram, who intercepted Herhor's letters to the a.s.syrians will return no sooner than the 20th. So only on the 21st of Paofi shall we have proofs in our hands that the high priests are traitors, and we shall announce their treason in public."

"Then am I to go to Fayum?" inquired Kalippos.

"Oh, no! Thou and Tutmosis will remain near me with chosen regiments.

We must have reserves in case the priests draw away a part of the people."

"Art thou not afraid of treason, lord?" asked Tutmosis.

The pharaoh waved his hand with indifference. "Treason is always leaking out like water from a swollen barrel. It will be difficult for the high priests to divine my plans, while I know what they wish. But as I have antic.i.p.ated them in collecting forces they will be weaker.

Regiments are not formed in a few days."

"But enchantments?" inquired Tutmosis.

"There are no enchantments which an axe will not shatter," said Rameses, laughing.

Tutmosis wished at that moment to mention the tricks of the high priests with Lykon, but he was restrained by the thought that his lord would be very angry and lose calmness, through which he was powerful on that day. A chief before battle can think of nothing but action, and there would be time enough for Lykon's case when the priests were in prison.

At a sign from his holiness Tutmosis remained in the chamber, but the three other dignitaries made low obeisances and vanished.

"At last!" sighed the chief scribe, when he found himself with the treasurer in the antechamber, "at last the power of the shaven heads is ending."

"Indeed it is time," said the treasurer. "During the last ten years any prophet had more power than the nomarch of Thebes or of Memphis."

"I think that Herhor is preparing in secret a boat in which to flee before the 23d of Paofi," put in Kalippos.

"What will be done to Herhor?" said the scribe. "His holiness, who is terrible to-day, will forgive him when he is obedient."

"And even leave him his property at the intercession of Queen Nikotris," said the treasurer. "At all events there will be order in the state, which for some time has been lacking."

"But it seems to me that his holiness is making too great preparations," said the scribe. "I should finish all with the Greek regiments, and not employ the people."

"He is young; he likes noise and uproar," added the treasurer.

"How clear it is that ye are not warriors," said Kalippos. "When it comes to battle we must concentrate all the forces, for surprises are sure to happen."

"They would happen if we had not the people behind us," said the scribe. "But what unexpected thing can happen? The G.o.ds will not come down to defend the labyrinth."

"Such is thy speech, worthiness, for thou art at rest," answered Kalippos; "thou knowest that the supreme chief is watching and is trying to foresee everything; if that were not the case thy skin might creep."

"I see no surprises," contended the scribe, "unless the high priests are spreading reports again that the pharaoh is demented."

"They will try various tricks," added the treasurer, yawning; "but in fact they have not strength enough. In every case I thank the G.o.ds who put me in the pharaoh's camp. Well, let us go to sleep."

After the dignitaries had left the chamber of the pharaoh, Tutmosis opened a secret door in one of the walls, and led in Samentu. Rameses received the high priest of Set with great pleasure; he gave him his hand to kiss, and pressed his head.

"Peace be with thee, good servant," said the sovereign. "What dost thou bring me?"

"I have been twice in the labyrinth," replied the priest.