"It is no fault of mine that Hiram has more trust in my words than have rich Egyptians! He knows that I would rather yield the arms which I inherit from my grandfather than fail to pay the money due him. It seems to me that he must be at rest concerning interest, since he has not mentioned it. I do not think of hiding from you, holy fathers, that the Phoenicians are more dexterous than Egyptians. Our wealthy men would make some faces before lending me one hundred talents; they would groan, make me wait a month, and at last demand immense pledges and a high rate of interest. But Phoenicians know the hearts of princes better; they give us money even without a judge or witnesses."
The high priest was so irritated by this quiet banter that he pressed his lips together and was silent. Mentezufis rescued him by asking quickly,
"What wouldst Thou say, worthiness, were we to make a treaty with
Assyria, yielding northern Asia and Phoenicia?"
While asking this question, he had his eyes fixed on the face of the heir. But Ramses answered him with perfect calmness,
"I should say that only traitors could persuade the pharaoh to make such a treaty."
Both priests started up. Mefres raised his hands; Mentezufis clinched his fist.
"But if danger to the state demanded it?" insisted Mentezufis.
"What do ye wish of me?" burst out the prince. "Ye interfere with my debts and women, ye surround me with spies, ye dare reproach me, and now ye give me some sort of traitorous queries. Now I will tell you: I, if ye were to poison me, would not sign a treaty like the one ye mention. Luckily that does not depend on me, but on his holiness, whose will we must all obey."
"What wouldst Thou do, then, wert Thou the pharaoh?"
"What the honor and the profit of the state demanded."