"'Assyria will take you,' said the attendant, 'and Egypt will take Israel. On that business the Chaldean high priest Beroes has gone to the priests of Thebes, and with them he will make a treaty.' "Ye must know," continued Hiram, "that Chaldean priests consider the priests in Egypt as their brothers, and that Beroes enjoys great esteem in the Court of King Assar, so reports concerning that treaty may be very truthful." "Why does Assyria want Phœnicia?" inquired Dagon, as he bit his finger-nails. "Why does a thief want another man's granary?" replied Hiram. "What good is a treaty made by Beroes with Egyptian priests?" put in Rabsun, thinking deeply. "Thou art dull!" answered Dagon. "Pharaoh does nothing except what the priests ordain." "There will be a treaty with the pharaoh, never fear!" interrupted Hiram. "We know to a certainty in Tyre that the Assyrian ambassador Sargon is coming to Egypt with gifts and with a great retinue. He pretends that it is to see Egypt and agree with ministers, not to inscribe in Egyptian acts that Assyria pays tribute to the pharaohs. But in fact he is coming to conclude a treaty about dividing the countries which lie between our sea and the Euphrates River." "May the earth swallow them!" imprecated Rabsun. "What dost thou think of this Dagon?" inquired Hiram. "But what would ye do if Assar attacked you really?" Hiram shook his head with anger. "What? We should go on board of ships with our families and treasures and leave to those dogs the ruins of cities and the rotting corpses of slaves. Do we not know greater and more beautiful countries than Phœnicia, where we can begin a new and richer fatherland?" "May the gods guard us from such a thing," said Dagon. "This is just the question, to save the present Phœnicia from destruction," said Hiram. "And thou, Dagon, art able to do much in this matter." "What can I do?" "Thou mayst learn from the priests whether Beroes met them, and whether he and they made an agreement." "A terribly difficult thing," whispered Dagon. "But I may find a priest who will tell me." "Thou canst prevent at the court of the pharaoh a treaty with Sargon," continued Hiram. "It is very difficult. I could not do that, unassisted." "I will be with thee, and Phœnicia will find the gold. A tax is in course of collection at present." "I have given two talents!" whispered Rabsun. "I will give ten," added Dagon. "But what shall I get for my labor?" "What? Well, ten ships," answered Hiram. "And how much wilt thou gain?" inquired Dagon. "Is ten not enough? Thou wilt get fifteen." "I ask, what wilt thou get?" insisted Dagon. "We will give--twenty ships. Does that suffice thee?" "Let it be so. But will ye show my ships the road to the country of silver?" "We will show it." "And the place where ye get tin? Well--" "And the place where amber is found?" continued Dagon.