The most worthy ruler took farewell of his heir very graciously; but the direction of state affairs during his absence he left with Herhor.
Ramses felt this proof of want of confidence so greatly that for three days he took no food and did not leave his villa; he only wept. Later he ceased to shave, and transferred himself to Sarah's house, so as not to meet Herhor or annoy his own mother, whom he considered the cause of his failures.
On the following day Tutmosis visited him in this retreat, bringing two boats filled with musicians and dancers, and a third containing baskets of food and flowers, with pitchers of wine. But the prince commanded the musicians and dancers to depart, and taking Tutmosis to the garden, he said,
"Of course my mother may she live through eternity! sent thee to separate me from the Jewess? Tell her worthiness that were Herhor to become not merely viceroy, but the son of my father, I should do that which pleases me. I know how to do it. Today they wish to deprive me of Sarah, and to-morrow they would take my power from me; I will show them that I shall not renounce anything."
The prince was irritated. Tutmosis shrugged his shoulders, and remarked finally,
"As a whirlwind sweeps a bird into a desert, so does anger cast a man on the shores of injustice. How canst Thou wonder if the priests are displeased because the heir to the throne has connected his life with a woman of another country and a strange religion? Sarah does not please them, especially since Thou hast her alone. Hadst Thou a number of various women, like all noble youths, they would not mind the Jewess. But have they done her harm? No. On the contrary, even some priest defended her against a raging crowd which it pleased thee to liberate from imprisonment."
"But my mother?"
Tutmosis laughed.
"Thy worthy mother loves thee as her own eyes and heart. Of course Sarah does not please her, either, but dost Thou know what her worthiness said once to me? This, that I should entice Sarah from thee. What a jest on her part! To this I answered with a second jest: 'Ramses has given me a brace of hunting dogs and two Syrian horses because he has grown tired of them; perhaps some day he will give me his mistress too, of course I shall have to take her with other things.'."
"Do not think of it. I would not give Sarah to any man, were it only for this, because of her my father has not appointed me viceroy."