"Hast thou not heard?" asked Hiram, with hesitation. "I know nothing. I have passed more than a month in the temple." "That is just the place in which to learn everything." "Tell me, worthiness," said the viceroy, striking the table with his fist. "I am not pleased when men are amused at my expense." "Give a great promise not to betray me to any one and I will tell, though I cannot believe that they have not informed the heir of this." "Dost thou not trust me?" asked the astonished prince. "In this affair I should require a promise from the pharaoh himself," answered Hiram, with decision. "If I swear on my sword, and the standards of my troops, that I will tell no man--" "Enough," said Hiram. "I am listening." "Does the prince know what is happening at this moment in Phœnicia?" "I know nothing of that, even," interrupted the irritated viceroy. "Our ships," whispered Hiram, "are coming home from all parts of the earth to convey at the first signal our people and treasures to some place--beyond the sea--to the west." "Why?" asked the astounded viceroy. "Because Assyria is to take us under her dominion." "Thou hast gone mad, worthy man!" exclaimed Rameses. "Assyria to take Phœnicia! But we?--Egypt--what would we say to that?" "Egypt has consented already." Blood rushed to the prince's head. "The heat has disturbed thy mind, aged man," said he, in a calm voice. "Thou hast forgotten, even, that such an affair could not take place without the pharaoh's permission and mine." "That will follow. Meanwhile the priests have concluded a treaty." "With whom? What priests?" "With Beroes, the high priest of Chaldea, at commission of King Assar," said Hiram. "And who from your side? I will not state to a certainty. But it seems to me that his worthiness Herhor, his worthiness Mefres, and the holy prophet Pentuer." The prince became pale. "Consider, Phœnician," said he, "that thou art accusing of treason the highest dignitaries of Egypt." "Thou art mistaken, prince, this is no treason: the high priest of Egypt and the minister of his holiness have the right to make treaties with neighboring states. Besides, how dost thou know, worthiness, that all this is not done with consent of the pharaoh?" Rameses was obliged to confess in his soul that such a treaty would not be treason, but disregard toward him, the erpatr. So then the priests treated him in this way,--him who might be the pharaoh a year hence? That is why Pentuer criticised war, and Mefres supported him. "When could that have happened, and where?" asked the prince. "Very likely they concluded the treaty at night in the temple of Set at Memphis," answered Hiram. "And when?--I know not exactly, but it seems to me that it took place when thou wert setting out from Memphis." "The wretches!" thought the viceroy. "That is how they respect my position! Some kind god made me doubt in the temple of Hator." After a time of internal conflict he added,--