"Aha! it was he, then, who was singing outside thy house, and he resembles me greatly?" Hiram bent his head and placed his hand on his heart. "We, lord, have paid that man bountifully because he is so like thee. We thought that his figure might serve thee should the need come." "And it has," interrupted the prince. "Where is he? I wish to see this perfect singer, this living picture of myself." Hiram held his hands apart. "The scoundrel has fled, but we will find him," replied he, "unless he turns into a fly or an earthworm." "But thou wilt forgive me, lord?" whispered the priestess, leaning on the knees of the prince. "Much is forgiven women," said Rameses. "And ye will not take vengeance on me?" asked she of Hiram, with fear. "Phœnicia," replied the old man, deliberately and with emphasis, "forgives the greatest offence to that person who possesses the favor of our lord Rameses,--may he live through eternity! As to Lykon," added he, turning to the heir, "thou wilt have him, dead or living." Hiram made a profound obeisance and went from the chamber, leaving the prince with the priestess. The blood rushed to Rameses' head; he embraced the kneeling Kama, and asked,-- "Hast thou heard the words of the worthy Hiram? Phœnicia forgives thee the greatest offence! That man is faithful to me indeed. And if he has said that, what answer wilt thou find?" Kama kissed his hands, whispering,-- "Thou hast won me--I am thy slave. But leave me in peace to-day, respect the house which belongs to Astaroth." "Then thou wilt remove to my palace?" asked the prince. "O gods, what hast thou said? Since the sun first rose and set, no priestess of As-- But this is difficult! Phœnicia, lord, gives thee a proof of attachment and honor such as no son of hers has received at any time." "Then?--" interrupted the prince. "But not to-day, and not here," implored Kama. CHAPTER XXXVIII Learning from Hiram that the Phœnicians had given him the priestess, Rameses wished to have her in his house at the earliest, not because he could not live without her, but because she had become for him a novelty. Kama delayed her coming; she implored the prince to leave her in peace till the inflow of pilgrims diminished, and above all till the most noted among them should go from Pi-Bast. Were she to become his favorite during their presence, the income of the temple might decrease and danger threaten the priestess. "Our sages and great men," said she to Rameses, "would forgive me. But the common people would call the vengeance of the gods on my head, and thou, lord, knowest that the gods have long hands." "May they not lose those hands in thrusting them under my roof," said Rameses. But he did not insist greatly, as his attention was much occupied at that juncture. The Assyrian ambassadors, Sargon and Istubar, had gone to Memphis to put their names to the treaty. At the same time the pharaoh had summoned Rameses to give a report of his journey.