"Egyptian law permits percentage to equal the loan," answered Dagon, confusedly. "But is that not too much?" "Too much?" cried out Dagon. "Every great lord has a great court, a great property, and pays no per cent save a great one. I should be ashamed to take less from the heir to the throne; if I did the prince himself might command to beat me with sticks and to drive me out of his presence." "When wilt thou bring the money?" "Bring it? O gods, one man would not have strength to bring so much. I will do better: I will make all payments for the prince, so that, worthiness, thou wilt not need to think of such a wretched matter." "Then dost thou know my debts?" "I know them a little," answered Dagon, carelessly. "The prince wishes to send six talents to the Eastern army; that will be done by our bankers. Three talents to the worthy Nitager and three to the worthy Patrokles; that will be done here immediately. Sarah and her father I can pay through that mangy Azarias--even better to pay them thus, for they would cheat the prince in reckoning." Rameses began to walk through the room impatiently. "Then am I to give a note for thirty talents?" "What note? why a note? what good would a note be to me? The prince will rent me for three years lands in the provinces of Takens, Ses, Neha-Chent, Neha-Pechu, in Sebt-Het, in Habu." "Rent them?" said the prince. "That does not please me." "Whence then am I to get back my money, my thirty talents?" "Wait! I must ask the inspector of my granaries how much these properties bring me in yearly." "Why so much trouble, worthiness? What does the inspector know? He knows nothing; as I am an honest Phœnician, he knows nothing. Each year the harvest is different, and the income different also. I may lose in this business, and the inspector would make no return to me." "But seest thou, Dagon, it seems to me that those lands bring far more than ten talents yearly." "The prince is unwilling to trust me? Well, at command of the heir I will drop out the land of Ses. The prince is not sure of my heart yet? Well, I will yield Sebt-Het also. But what use for an inspector here? Will he teach the prince wisdom? O Astoreth! I should lose sleep and appetite if such an overseer, subject and slave, dared to correct my gracious lord. Here is needed only a scribe who will write down that my most worthy lord gives me as tenant for three years lands in such and such a province. And sixteen witnesses will be needed to testify that such an honor from the prince has come to me. But why should servants know that their lord borrows money from Dagon?" The wearied heir shrugged his shoulders. "To-morrow," said he, "thou wilt bring the money, and bring a scribe and witnesses. I do not wish to think of it." "Oh, what wise words!" cried the Phœnician. "Mayst thou live, worthiest lord, through eternity!" CHAPTER IX