"To the pharaoh and the state!" interrupted the lady. "Knowest thou what takes place in our treasury, from which in one day thou takest ten talents and desirest fifteen more? Knowest thou that were it not for the liberality of the priests, who on behalf of the treasury even take real jewels from the gods and put false ones in their places, the property of the pharaoh would be now in the hands of Phœnicians?" "One fortunate war would overflow our treasury as the increase of the Nile does our fields." "No. Thou, Rameses, art such a child yet that we may not even reckon thy godless words as sinful. Occupy thyself, I beg, with thy Greek regiments, get rid of the Jew girl as quickly as may be, and leave politics to us." "Why must I put away Sarah?" "Shouldst thou have a son from her, complications might rise in the State, which is troubled enough as matters now are. Thou mayst be angry with the priests," added she, "if thou wilt not offend them in public. They know that it is necessary to overlook much in an heir to the throne, especially when he has such a stormy character. But time pacifies everything to the glory of the dynasty and the profit of Egypt." The prince meditated; then he said suddenly,-- "I cannot count, therefore, on money from the treasury." "Thou canst not in any case. The grand secretary would have been forced to stop payment to-day had I not given him fourteen talents sent from Tyre to me." "And what shall I do with the army?" asked the prince, rubbing his forehead impatiently. "Put away the Jewess, and beg the priests. Perhaps they will make a loan to thee." "Never! I prefer a loan from Phœnicians." The lady shook her head. "Thou art erpatr, act as may please thee. But I say that thou must give great security, and the Phœnicians, when once thy creditors, will not let thee go. They surpass the Jews in treachery." "A part of my income will suffice to cover such debts." "We shall see. I wish sincerely to help thee, but I have not the means," said the lady, sadly. "Do, then, as thou art able, but remember that the Phœnicians in our state are like rats in a granary; when one pushes in through a crevice, others follow." Rameses loitered in leave-taking. "Hast thou something more to tell me?" inquired the queen. "I should like to ask-- My heart divines that thou, mother, hast some plans regarding me. What are they?" She stroked his face. "Not now--not yet. Thou art free to-day, like every young noble in the country; then make use of thy freedom. But, Rameses, the time is coming when thou wilt have to take a wife whose children will be princes of the blood royal and whose son will be thy heir. I am thinking of that time--" "And what?" "Nothing defined yet. In every case political wisdom suggests to me that thy wife should be a priest's daughter." "Perhaps Herhor's?" said the prince, with a laugh.