The high priest, when he heard his own story, shook in the chair, and would have fallen had not Mentezufis supported him. Rameses bustled about, gave the old man water to drink, rubbed vinegar on his temples and forehead, and fanned him. Soon the holy Mefres recovered, rose from the chair, and said to Mentezufis,-- "May we not go now?" "I think so." "But what am I to do?" asked the prince, feeling that something evil had happened. "Accomplish the duties of leader," said Mentezufis, coldly. Both priests bowed to the prince ceremoniously, and departed. Rameses was not entirely sober, but a great weight fell on his heart. At that moment he understood that he had committed two grievous errors: He had confessed to the priests that he knew their great secret, and he had jeered, without mercy, at Mefres. He would have given a year of his life could he have blotted from their memories all that drunken conversation. But it was too late then to do so. "It cannot be hidden," thought he. "I have betrayed myself and procured mortal enemies. The position is difficult. The struggle begins at a moment which is for me most unfavorable. But let us go on. More than one pharaoh has struggled with the priests and conquered, even without having very strong allies." Still he felt the danger of his position so clearly that at that moment he swore by the sacred head of his father that he would never drink wine again freely. He summoned Tutmosis. The confidant appeared at once, perfectly sober. "We have a war, and I am commander," said the viceroy. Tutmosis bent to the earth. "I will never get drunk again," added the prince. "And knowest thou why?" "A leader should abstain from wine and stupefying perfumes," said Tutmosis. "I have not thought of that,--that is nothing; but I have babbled out a secret before the priests." "What secret?" cried the terrified Tutmosis. "This,--that I hate them, and jeer at their miracles." "Oh, that is no harm. They never calculate on the love of people." "And that I know their political secrets," added the prince. "Ei!" hissed Tutmosis. "That is the one thing that was not needed." "No help for it now," said Rameses. "Send out our couriers immediately to the regiments; let the chiefs meet to-morrow morning in a military council. Give command to light alarm signals, so that all the troops of Lower Egypt may march toward the western border to-morrow. Go to the nomarchs here, and command them to inform all the others to collect clothing, provisions, and weapons." "We shall have trouble with the Nile," said Tutmosis. "Then let every boat and barge be held at the arms of the Nile to ferry over troops. We must summon every nomarch to occupy himself in fitting out reserves." Meanwhile Mefres and Mentezufis returned to their dwellings in the temple of Ptah. When they were alone in a cell, the high priest raised his hands, and exclaimed,--