The prince grew pale.
"Priest," said he, standing up also, "on what basis dost Thou speak to me as a superior?"
Mentezufis drew aside his robe, and took from his neck a chain on which was one of the pharaoh's rings.
The viceroy looked at the ring, kissed it with devotion, returned it to the priest, and answered,
"I will fulfill the command of his holiness, my lord and father."
Again both sat down, and the prince asked the priest,
"Canst Thou explain to me, worthiness, why Assyria should not pay us tribute which would save the state treasury from embarrassment?"
"Because we have not the power to force Assyria to pay us tribute," answered Mentezufis, coldly. "We have an army of a hundred and twenty thousand, Assyria has three hundred thousand warriors. I say this to thee, worthiness, in perfect confidence, as to a high state official."
"I understand. But why did the ministry of war, in which Thou servest, decrease our valiant army sixty thousand men?"
"To increase the income of his holiness twenty thousand talents," replied the priest.