"O blessed! O holy ruler! From what a dreadful heritage Thou hast saved me."
"So Phoenicia remains in abeyance," continued Tutmosis. "But still there is one bad thing. His holiness, to show Assyria that he will not hinder her in the war against northern peoples, has commanded to decrease our army by twenty thousand mercenaries."
"What dost Thou tell me!" cried the heir, astounded.
Tutmosis shook his head in sign of sorrow.
"I speak the truth, and four Libyan regiments are now disbanded."
"But this is madness!" almost howled the heir, wringing his hands. "Why have we so weakened ourselves, and whither will those disbanded men go?"
"They have gone to the Libyan desert already, and will either attack the Libyans, which will cause us trouble, or will join them and both will attack then our western border."
"I have heard nothing of this! What did they do, and when did they do it? No news reached us!" cried Ramses.
"The disbanded troops went to the desert from Memphis, and Herhor forbade to mention this news to any person."
"Do neither Mefres nor Mentezufis know of this matter?"