"During the nineteenth dynasty twenty thousand people dwelt in that province; they paid three hundred and fifty talents of yearly taxes. To-day there are hardly fifteen thousand, and these, of course, pay the treasury only two hundred and seventy talents. Meanwhile the pharaoh, instead of receiving two hundred and seventy talents, receives one hundred and seventy. "'Why is that?' inquired Herhor; and this is what an investigation discovered: During the nineteenth dynasty there were in the district about one hundred officials, and these received each one thousand drachmas yearly salary. To-day in that same district, though the people have decreased, there are more than two hundred officials who receive two thousand five hundred drachmas yearly. "It is unknown to his worthiness Herhor if this is the case in every district. But this much is certain, that the treasury of the pharaoh, instead of ninety-eight thousand talents annually, has only seventy-four thousand--" "Say, worthy father, fifty thousand," interrupted Rameses. "I will explain that too," replied Pentuer. "In every case remember, prince, that the pharaoh's treasury pays to-day twenty-four thousand talents to officials, while it gave only ten thousand during the nineteenth dynasty." Deep silence reigned among the dignitaries, for more than one of them had a relative in office, well paid moreover. But Pentuer was unterrified. "Now," continued he, "I will show thee, O heir, the manner of life among officials, and the lot of common people in those old times and in our day." "Will it not take too much time? Besides, every man can see for himself," murmured the priests, very promptly. "I wish to know this," said the prince, with decision. The murmur ceased. Pentuer went down along the steps of the amphitheatre to the court, and after him went the prince, the high priests, Mefres and the others. They halted before a long curtain of mats, forming as it were a palisade. At a sign from Pentuer some tens of minor priests hastened up with blazing torches. Another sign, and a portion of the curtain fell. From the lips of those present came a shout of admiration. They had before them a brightly illuminated tableau in which about one hundred persons were the characters. The tableau was divided into three stories; on the lower story stood earth tillers, on a higher were officials, and on the highest was the golden throne of the pharaoh resting on two lions whose heads were the arms of the throne.