"Thou wert sparing of gold to pay men for watching," said Mefres. "Thou seest now what results are involved in a neglect which seemed slight to thee." "But what has happened?" inquired Sem, impatiently. "I will answer briefly: the prince reviles the gods." "Oho!" "He criticises the commands of the pharaoh." "Is it possible?" "He calls the supreme council traitors." "But--" "But from whom did he learn of the coming of Beroes, even of his interview with Mefres, Herhor, and Pentuer, in the temple of Set?" The high priest Sem, seizing his head with both hands, walked up and down through the cell. "Impossible!" said he. "Impossible! Has any one cast a spell over that young man? Perhaps the Phœnician priestess, whom he stole from the temple." This consideration seemed to Mentezufis so apposite that he looked at Mefres. But the angry high priest would not be turned aside for an instant. "Let us see," said he. "But first we must investigate and learn what the prince was doing day by day, after his return from the temple of Hator. He had too much freedom, too many relations with unbelievers and with enemies of Egypt. But thou wilt help us, worthy Sem." Because of this decision, the high priest Sem ordered to summon for the following day a solemn service at the temple of Ptah. So they stationed on squares and at street corners, even in the fields, heralds of the priests, and called all the people with flutes and trumpets. And when a sufficient number of hearers had assembled, they informed them that in the temple of Ptah there would be prayers and processions during three days, to the intent that the good god would bless Egyptian arms and crush Libyans; that he would send down on their leader, Musawasa, leprosy, insanity, and blindness. As the priests wished, so was it done. From morning till late at night common people of every occupation crowded around the temple; the aristocracy and the wealthy citizens assembled in the forecourt; while the priests of the city and of the neighboring provinces made sacrifices to Ptah and repeated prayers in the most holy chapel. Thrice daily did a solemn procession issue forth, carrying in a golden boat, concealed by curtains, the revered statue of the divinity; whereat the people prostrated themselves and confessed their faults loudly, while prophets disposed in the crowd numerously helped them to penitence by appropriate questions. A similar thing was done in the forecourt of the temple. But since officials and rich people did not like to accuse themselves openly, the holy fathers took them aside, and gave advice and exhortation in whispers. In the afternoon the service was most solemn, for at that time the troops marching westward came to receive the blessing of the high priest, and strengthen the power of amulets which had the quality of weakening blows from the enemy.