Mentezufis shook his head.
"Wisdom of the state," said he, "belongs to the priesthood; therefore only the man who is devoted to the gods can obtain it. Meanwhile, worthiness, though reared by priests, Thou pushest thyself away from the temples decisively."
"How is that? Then, if I do not become a priest, will ye not explain to me?"
"There are things, worthiness, which Thou mayest know even now, as erpatr, there are others which Thou wilt know when Thou art the pharaoh. There are still others which only a high priest may know."
"Every pharaoh is a high priest," interrupted the prince.
"Not every pharaoh. Besides, even among high priests there are grades of difference."
"Then," cried the enraged heir, "ye hide the order of the state from me, and I shall not be able to carry out the commands of my father?"
"What the prince needs may be known," answered Mentezufis, quietly, "for Thou hast the inferior priestly consecration. Those things, however, are hidden behind the veil in temples, which no one will dare to draw aside without due preparation."
"I will draw it."
"May the gods defend Egypt from such a misfortune!" replied the priest, as he raised both his hands. "Dost Thou not know, worthiness, that a thunderbolt would kill any man who without the needed ceremonies should touch the veil? Were the prince to take to the temple any slave or condemned criminal and let him stretch out his hand, the man would die that same instant."