The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 162

Further conversation was interrupted by an adjutant summoning Tutmosis to his holiness.

"But--but," added Hiram, "your soldiers have stopped on the path the priest Pentuer, who has something important to convey to the pharaoh."

Tutmosis seized his own head, and sent officers immediately to find Pentuer. Then he ran to the pharaoh, and after a while returned and commanded the Phnician to follow him.

When Hiram entered the chamber of Rameses he saw Queen Nikotris, the chief treasurer, the chief scribe, and a number of generals. Rameses XIII. was irritated, and walked up and down quickly through the chamber.

"Here we have the misfortune of the pharaoh, and of Egypt!" exclaimed the queen, pointing to the Phnician.

"Worthy lady," answered Hiram, without confusion, bowing to her, "time will show who was the faithful and who the evil servant of his holiness."

Rameses stopped suddenly before Hiram.

"Hast thou the letters of Herhor to a.s.syria?" inquired he.

The Phnician drew from under his robe a package, and in silence handed it to the pharaoh.

"This is what I needed!" exclaimed the pharaoh in triumph. "We must declare at once to the people that the high priests are guilty of treason--"

"My son," interrupted the queen in an imploring voice, "by the shade of thy father I adjure thee; delay this announcement a couple of days. There is need of great caution with gifts from Phnicia."

"Holiness," put in Hiram, "thou mayst even burn these letters. I am in no way concerned with them."

The pharaoh thought a while, then hid the package in his bosom.

"What hast thou heard in Lower Egypt?" inquired the sovereign.

"They are beating Phnicians at all points," replied Hiram. "Our houses are wrecked, our effects stolen, and a number of tens of Phnicians are slain."

"I have heard. This is the work of the priests," said the pharaoh.

"Say, rather, my son, that it comes of the G.o.dlessness and extortion of Phnicians," interrupted Queen Nikotris.

"For three days the chief of police from Pi-Bast is in Memphis with two a.s.sistants, and they are on the trail of the murderer and deceiver Lykon--"

"Who was hidden in Phnician temples!" cried Nikotris.

"Lykon," continued Hiram, "whom the high priest Mefres stole from the police and the courts--Lykon, who in Thebes ran naked through the garden as a maniac, counterfeiting thee, holiness."

"What dost thou tell me?" cried the pharaoh.

"Holiness, ask the most revered queen if she saw him," answered Hiram.

Rameses looked in confusion at his mother.

"Yes," said she. "I saw that wretch, but I said nothing so as to spare thee pain. I must explain, however, that no one has proof that Lykon was put there by the priests, for the Phnicians might have done that as well."

Hiram laughed sneeringly.

"O mother, mother!" cried Rameses, with sorrow. "Is it possible that the priests are dearer to thy heart than I am?"

"Thou art my son and most precious sovereign," said the queen with enthusiasm, "but I cannot suffer a stranger, an infidel, to cast calumny on the holy order of the priests from which we are both descended. O Rameses," exclaimed she, falling on her knees, "expel these wicked counsellors who urge thee to insult temples, and raise thy hand against the successor of thy grandsire, Amenhotep. There is still time for agreement, still time to save Egypt."

All at once, Pentuer, in torn garments, entered the chamber.

"Well, and what hast thou to say?" inquired the pharaoh, with wonderful calmness.

"To-day, perhaps immediately, there will be an eclipse of the sun."

The pharaoh started back in astonishment.

"How does an eclipse of the sun concern me, especially at this moment?"

"Lord," said Pentuer, "I thought the same till I read in old chronicles of eclipses. An eclipse is such a terrifying spectacle that it was necessary to forewarn the whole people of it--"

"That is the truth!" interrupted Hiram.

"Why didst thou not inform earlier?" inquired Tutmosis.

"The warriors kept me in prison two days. We cannot forewarn the people now, but at least inform the troops at the palace, so that they, too, should not give way to panic."

Rameses clapped his hands.

"Ah, it is too bad!" whispered he, and added aloud. "When will it be, and what will take place?"

"Day will become night," said Pentuer. "This will last as much time, perhaps, as is needed in walking five hundred yards. It will begin at midday, so Menes told me."

"Menes," repeated the pharaoh, "I know that name."

"He wrote thee a letter concerning it, holiness. But let the army know."

Straightway they sounded the trumpets; the guard and the Asiatics were drawn out under arms, and the pharaoh, surrounded by his staff, informed the troops of the eclipse, telling them not to be alarmed, that it would pa.s.s soon, and that he would be with them.

"Live through eternity!" answered the armed ranks.

At the same time a number of the best riders were sent to Memphis.

The generals took their places at the head of the columns, the pharaoh walked through the court thoughtfully, the civilians whispered with Hiram; Queen Nikotris, left alone in the chamber, fell on her face before the statue of Osiris.

It was after one. The light of the sun began to lessen.

"Will night come in fact?" asked the pharaoh of Pentuer.

"It will come, but during a very short interval."

"Where will the sun be?"

"It will hide behind the moon."