"And that alone would mean nothing," said Hiram. "But one of our merchants returned a month ago from Babylon with wonderful tidings. In return for a great present a certain attendant of the Satrap of Babylon informed him that misfortune was threatening Phoenicia.
"Assyria will take you," said the attendant, "and Egypt will take Israel. On that business the Chaldean high priest Beroes has gone to the priests of Thebes, and with them he will make a treaty."
"Ye must know," continued Hiram, "that Chaldean priests consider the priests in Egypt as their brothers, and that Beroes enjoys great esteem in the Court of King Assar, so reports concerning that treaty may be very truthful."
"Why does Assyria want Phoenicia?" inquired Dagon, as he bit his finger-nails.
"Why does a thief want another man's granary?" replied Hiram.
"What good is a treaty made by Beroes with Egyptian priests?" put in
Rabsun, thinking deeply.
"Thou art dull!" answered Dagon. "Pharaoh does nothing except what the priests ordain."
"There will be a treaty with the pharaoh, never fear!" interrupted Hiram. "We know to a certainty in Tyre that the Assyrian ambassador Sargon is coming to Egypt with gifts and with a great retinue. He pretends that it is to see Egypt and agree with 'ministers, not to inscribe in Egyptian acts that Assyria pays tribute to the pharaohs. But in fact he is coming to conclude a treaty about dividing the countries which lie between our sea and the Euphrates River."
"May the earth swallow them!" imprecated Rabsun.
"What dost Thou think of this Dagon?" inquired Hiram.