The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 67

"I will go if thou command me, lord," said Kama, concealing her face with her veil.

The prince took her hands in silence. His lips quivered.

"Do not touch me, lord," whispered she, with emotion. "Thou art my sovereign, my support, the support of all Phnicians in this country--but have compa.s.sion."

The viceroy let her go, and walked up and down through the chamber.

"The day is hot, is it not?" asked he. "There are countries where in the month of Mechir white down falls from the sky, it is said; this down in the fire turns to water, and makes the air cold. Oh, Kama, beg thy G.o.ds to send me a little of that down,--though what do I say? If they should cover Egypt with it, all that down might be turned into water and not cool the heart in me."

"For thou art like the divine Amon; thou art the sun concealed in human form," replied Kama. "Darkness flees from that place whither thou turnest thy countenance, and under the gleam of thy glances flowers blossom."

The prince turned again to her.

"But be compa.s.sionate," whispered she. "Moreover, thou art a kind G.o.d, hence thou canst not be unjust to thy priestess."

The prince turned away again, and shook as if wishing to cast down a burden. Kama looked from beneath her drooping lids at him, and smiled slightly.

When silence had endured too long, she said,--

"Thou hast commanded to summon me, Sovereign. Here I am, to hear what thy will is."

"Aha!" said the prince, recovering. "But tell me, O, priestess, aha!

who was that who resembled me so closely,--the man whom I saw that night in the temple?"

Kama placed a finger on her lips.

"A sacred mystery," whispered she.

"One thing is a mystery, another is not permitted," replied Rameses.

"Let me know at least whether it was a man or a spirit?"

"A spirit."

"But still that spirit sang under thy window."

Kama laughed.

"I do not wish to violate the secrets of the temple."

"Thou hast promised that to Prince Hiram," put in the priestess.

"Well, well," interrupted the irritated viceroy; "for this cause I shall not speak with Hiram or any other man about this miracle, only with thee. Now, Kama, tell this spirit or man who is so like me to leave Egypt at the earliest, and not to show himself to any one. For, seest thou, in no state can there be two heirs to the throne."

All at once he tapped his forehead. Up to that instant he had spoken so as to trouble Kama, but now an idea altogether serious came to him.

"I am curious," said he, looking sharply at Kama, "to know why thy compatriots showed me my own living picture. Do they wish to forewarn me that they have a man to supplant me? Indeed, their act is astounding."

Kama fell at his feet.

"O lord!" whispered she, "thou who bearest on thy breast our highest talisman, canst thou suppose that the Phnicians would do aught to injure thee? But only think--if danger threatened thee, or if thou hadst the wish to mystify enemies, would not such a man be of service?

The Phnician only wished to show thee this in the temple."

The prince meditated a moment, and shrugged his shoulders.

"So," thought he, "if I needed anyone's a.s.sistance! But do the Phnicians think that I need a.s.sistance? If I do they have chosen a poor protector."

"Lord!" whispered Kama, "is it not known to thee that Rameses the Great had, in addition to his own person, two others to show enemies?

Those two shadows of the pharaoh perished, but he survived."

"Well, enough of this," interrupted the prince. "But that the people of Asia may know that I am gracious, I designate Kama five talents for games, in honor of Astaroth, and a costly goblet for her temple. This gift will be received to-day by thee."

He dismissed the priestess with a motion of his head.

After her departure a new wave of thought mastered him.

"Indeed, the Phnicians are clever. If this, my living picture, is a man, they can make of him a great present to me, and I shall perform at times miracles such, perhaps, as have never been heard of in Egypt.

The pharaoh dwells in Memphis, and at the same time he shows himself in Thebes or in Tanis. The pharaoh is marching on Babylon with an army, the a.s.syrians a.s.semble their main forces there, and simultaneously the pharaoh, with another army, captures Nineveh,--I judge that the a.s.syrians would be greatly astounded by an event of that sort."

And again deep hatred was roused in him against the strong Asiatics; again he saw his conquering chariot sweeping over a battlefield covered with a.s.syrian corpses, and whole baskets of severed hands stood before him.

For his soul war had become now as great a need as bread is for the body. For not only could he enrich Egypt by it, fill the treasury, and win glory to last through ages, but, besides, he might satisfy the instinct hitherto unknown, but roused mightily at that moment, to destroy a.s.syria.

Until he had seen those warriors with s.h.a.ggy beards he had not thought of them. That day they had met him and made the world seem so small that one side must give way,--they or he.

What role had Hiram and Kama played in creating his present frame of mind? Of this he had made no estimate. He felt only that he must have war with a.s.syria, just as a bird of pa.s.sage feels that in the month Pachons it must go northward.

A pa.s.sion for war seized the prince quickly. He spoke less, laughed more rarely, sat in thoughtfulness at feasts, and also spent his time oftener and oftener with the army and the aristocracy. Seeing the favor which the heir showered on those who bore arms, the n.o.ble youth, and even older men, began to join regiments. This attracted the attention of the holy Mentezufis, who sent a letter to Herhor with the following contents:--

"From the time that the a.s.syrians have arrived at Pi-Bast the heir is feverish, and his court is inclined toward war very greatly. They drink and play dice as before; but all have thrown aside robes and wigs, and, disregarding the awful heat, go about in military caps and mantles.

"I fear lest this armed readiness may offend the worthy Sargon."

To this Herhor replied immediately,--

"It is no harm that our effeminate n.o.bles have taken a love for military appearance during the visit of Sargon, for the a.s.syrians will have a better opinion touching Egypt. Our most worthy viceroy, enlightened by the G.o.ds, as is evident, has divined that just now it is necessary to rattle our swords when we have with us the amba.s.sadors of such a military people. I am certain that this valiant bearing of our youth will give Sargon something to think of, and will make him more yielding in arguments."

For the first time since Egypt had become Egypt it happened that a youthful prince had deceived the watchful priesthood. It is true that the Phnicians were behind him, and had stolen the secret of the treaty with a.s.syria; of this the priests had not even a suspicion.

In fact, the very best mask which the heir had against suspicion was his impetuosity of character. All remembered how easily in the past year he had rushed from manuvres at Pi-Bailos to Sarah's quiet country villa, and how from feasts he had grown impa.s.sioned, recently, for administrative labor, and then devotion, to return to feasts afterward.

So no one believed, with the exception of Tutmosis, that that changeful youth had before him an object for which he would fight with invincible decision.

Even this time there was no need to wait long for new proofs of the prince's mobility of temper.

To Pi-Bast, in spite of the heat, came Sarah with all her court and her infant. She was somewhat thin, her child a trifle ill, or wearied, but both looked very charming.

The prince was enchanted. He a.s.signed a house to Sarah in the choicest part of the palace garden, and sat whole days, almost, at his son's cradle.