In the evening another boat approached Sarah's dwelling, out of which came the chief steward of the prince's property.
Ramses received this official at the garden gate also. Perhaps he did this through sternness, or perhaps not to constrain the man to enter the house of his mistress and a Jewess.
"I wished," said the heir, "to see thee and to say that among my people certain improper conversations circulate concerning decrease of rent, or something of that kind. I wish those people to know that I will not decrease rents. But should any man in spite of warnings persist in his folly and talk about rents, he will receive blows of canes."
"Perhaps it would be better if he paid a fine, an uten or a drachma, whatever is commanded, worthiness," said the chief steward.
"Yes; but the worst offender might be beaten."
"I make bold to offer a remark, worthiness," said the steward in a low tone, inclining continually, "that the earth-workers, roused by some unknown person, really did talk for a time about decrease of rent. But some days ago they ceased on a sudden."
"In that case we might withhold the blows of canes," said Ramses.
"Unless as preventive means," put in the steward.
"Would it not be too bad to spoil the canes?"
"We shall never lack articles of that sort."