"Thou wilt see!" said he once to Tutmosis. "The holy prophets will manage us so that Musawasa will take Lower Egypt, and we shall have to flee to Thebes, if not to Sunnu, unless the Ethiopians drive us also from that place." "Thou speakest truth," replied Tutmosis; "our rulers' acts resemble those of traitors." The first day in the month of Hator (August-September) a great feast was given at the palace of the viceroy. They began to amuse themselves at two in the afternoon, and before sunset all present were drunk. It went so far that men and women rolled on the floor, which was wet with wine and covered with flowers and pieces of broken pitchers. The prince was the soberest among them. He was not on the floor, he was sitting in an armchair, holding on his knees two beautiful dancers, one of whom was giving him wine, while the other was pouring strong perfumes on his head. At this moment an adjutant entered the hall, and, stepping over a number of guests lying prostrate, hurried up to Rameses. "Worthy lord," said he, "the holy Mefres and the holy Mentezufis wish to speak at once with thee." The viceroy pushed the girls away, and with red face, stained garments, and tottering steps went to his chamber in the upper story. At sight of him Mefres and Mentezufis looked at each other. "What do ye wish, worthy fathers?" asked the prince, dropping into an armchair. "I do not know whether thou wilt be able to hear us," answered the anxious Mentezufis. "Ah! do ye think that I am tipsy?" cried the prince. "Have no fear. To-day all Egypt is either so mad or so stupid that most sense is found among drinkers." The priests frowned, but Mentezufis began,-- "Thou knowest, worthiness, that our lord and the supreme council determined to disband twenty thousand mercenary warriors?" "Well, if I do not know?" said the heir. "Ye have not deigned to ask my advice in a question so difficult to determine, ye have not even thought it worth while to inform me that four regiments are disbanded, and that those men, because of hunger, are attacking our cities." "It seems to me, worthiness, that thou art criticising the commands of his holiness the pharaoh," interrupted Mentezufis. "Not of his holiness!" cried the prince, stamping, "but of those traitors who, taking advantage of the sickness of my father, wish to sell Egypt to Assyrians and Libyans." The priests were astounded. No Egyptian had ever used words of that kind. "Permit, prince, that we return in a couple of hours, when thou shalt have calmed thyself," said Mefres. "There is no need of that. I know what is happening on our western boundary. Or rather it is not I who know, but my cooks, stable-boys, and laundrymen. Perhaps then ye will have the goodness, worthy fathers, to communicate your plans to me." Mentezufis assumed a look of indifference, and said,-- "The Libyans have rebelled and are collecting bands with the intention of attacking Egypt." "I understand."