"Besides, the royal treasury is empty, and the greater part of the pharaoh's property belongs to the temples. He must contract new debts yearly even to maintain his household; and since there will be no Phœnicians among you, ye must borrow of the temples. In this way, when ten years have passed, his holiness--may he live through eternity!--will lose what is left of his property, and then what?" On the forehead of Rameses perspiration came out in drops. "Thou seest then, worthy lord," continued Hiram, "the priests might and even would be forced in one case to accept the most disgraceful treaty with Assyria: if they are working to lower and destroy the power of the pharaoh--well, there may be another case: if Egypt were so weak as to need peace at any price--" The prince sprang up. "Silence!" cried he. "I should prefer treason on the part of my most faithful servants, to such weakness in the country. Egypt yield to Assyria--why, a year later Egypt herself would fall under the yoke of Assyria, for by subscribing to such infamy she would confess her own helplessness." He walked up and down the room, with indignation, while Hiram looked at him with compassion or with sympathy. All at once Rameses halted before the Phœnician,-- "This is false! Some adroit villain has deceived thee, O Hiram, with the semblance of truth, and thou hast believed him. If such a treaty existed, they would have kept it in the closest secrecy. In the present case one of the four priests whom thou hast mentioned is a traitor, not only to his own sovereign, but to his co-conspirators--" "There might have been some fifth man who overheard them," interrupted Hiram. "And who sold the secret to thee?" "It is a wonder to me," said Hiram, "that the prince has not discovered the power of gold." "But stop, worthiness, our priests have more gold than thou, though thou art wealthy beyond the wealthy!" "Still I am not angry when a drachma comes to me. Why should others refuse a talent?" "They would because they are servants of the gods," said the prince, passionately; "they would fear divine punishment." The Phœnician laughed. "I have seen," said he, "many temples of various nations, and in those temples great and small statues, of wood, stone, and gold even. But gods I have never met." "Blasphemer!" exclaimed Rameses. "I have seen a divinity, I have felt its hand on my person, I have heard its voice." "In what place?" "In the temple of Hator, in its hall of entrance, and in my cell." "In the daytime?" "In the night," replied the prince; and he stopped. "At night the prince heard speeches of the gods, and felt their hands," replied the Phœnician, emphasizing word after word. "At night it is possible to see many things. What happened?" "In the temple I was seized by the head, by the shoulders, by the legs; and I swear--" "Phst!" interrupted Hiram, with a smile. "It is not proper to swear in vain."