"Thou hast gone mad, worthy man!" exclaimed Ramses. "Assyria to take
Phoenicia! But we? Egypt what would we say to that?"
"Egypt has consented already."
Blood rushed to the prince's head.
"The heat has disturbed thy mind, aged man," said he, in a calm voice. "Thou hast forgotten, even, that such an affair could not take place without the pharaoh's permission and mine."
"That will follow. Meanwhile the priests have concluded a treaty."
"With whom? What priests?"
"With Beroes, the high priest of Chaldea, at commission of King Assar," said Hiram. "And who from your side? I will not state to a certainty. But it seems to me that his worthiness Herhor, his worthiness Mefres, and the holy prophet Pentuer."
The prince became pale.
"Consider, Phoenician," said he, "that Thou art accusing of treason the highest dignitaries of Egypt."
"Thou art mistaken, prince, this is no treason: the high priest of Egypt and the minister of his holiness have the right to make treaties with neighboring states. Besides, how dost Thou know, worthiness, that all this is not done with consent of the pharaoh?"