The astonished heir turned to the nomarch of Memphis.
"But look, worthiness, sticks are at work there."
The nomarch shaded his eyes with his hand, his neck became red.
"Pardon, most worthy prince, but I see badly."
"They are beating surely they are beating!"
"That is possible," answered the nomarch. "Undoubtedly the priests have caught a band of thieves there."
Not over-pleased with this conversation, the heir went toward the stern to the engineers, who turned the barge suddenly toward the middle of the river, and from that point he looked back at Memphis.
Both banks higher up the Nile were almost deserted, the boats had disappeared, the well-sweeps were moving as if nothing had happened.
"Is the solemnity over?" inquired the prince of an engineer, pointing to a higher place on the river.
"It is. The people have returned to their work," said the engineer.
"Very quickly."