In the afternoon Hiram appeared before the palace in a simple litter borne by eight poor Egyptians to whom he gave alms. He was surrounded by the most notable Phœnician merchants, and that same throng of people who stood before his house daily. Rameses greeted with a certain astonishment the old man out of whose eyes wisdom was gazing and in whose whole bearing there was dignity. He bowed gravely before the viceroy, and raising his hands above his head, pronounced a short blessing. Those present were deeply affected. When the viceroy indicated an armchair and commanded his courtiers to withdraw, Hiram said,-- "Yesterday thy servant Dagon informed me that the prince needs a hundred talents. I sent out my couriers at once to Sabne-Chetam, Sethroe, Pi-Uto, and other cities where there are Phœnician ships, asking them to land all their goods. I think that in a day or two thou wilt receive this small sum--" "Small!" interrupted Rameses, with a smile. "Thou art happy if thou call a hundred talents a small sum." Hiram nodded. "Thy grandfather, worthiness," said he, after a while, "the eternally living Rameses-sa-Ptah, honored me with his friendship; I know also his holiness, thy father--may he live through eternity!--and I will even try to lay before him my homage, if I be permitted." "Whence could a doubt arise?" interrupted the prince. "There are persons," replied the guest, "who admit some to the face of the pharaoh and refuse others--but never mind them. Thou art not to blame for this; hence I venture to lay before thee one question, as an old friend of thy father and his father." "I am listening." "What means it," asked Hiram, slowly, "that the heir to the throne and a viceroy must borrow a hundred talents when more than a hundred thousand are due Egypt?" "Whence?" cried Rameses. "From the tribute of Asiatic peoples. Phœnicia owes five thousand; well, Phœnicia will pay, I guarantee that, unless some events happen. But, besides, Israel owes three thousand, the Philistines and the Moabites each two thousand, the Hittites thirty thousand. Finally, I do not remember details, but I know that the total reaches a hundred and three or a hundred and five thousand talents." Rameses gnawed his lips, but on his vivacious countenance helpless anger was evident. He dropped his eyes and was silent. "It is true," said Hiram, on a sudden, and looking sharply at the viceroy. "Poor Phœnicia--but also Egypt." "What dost thou say?" asked the prince, frowning. "I understand not thy questions." "Prince, thou knowest what it is of which I speak, since thou dost not answer my question," replied Hiram; and he rose as if to withdraw. "Still, I withdraw not my promise. Thou wilt receive a hundred talents." He made a low bow, but the viceroy forced him to sit down again. "Thou art hiding something," said Rameses, in a voice in which offence was evident. "I would hear thee explain what danger threatens Egypt or Phœnicia."