"In every case, Sarah's fault is not so great," put in Tutmosis.
"Then know that I will pay the priests sometime."
"They are not to blame so greatly. For instance, the worthy Herhor did this to increase the glory and power of thy dynasty. And he did it with the knowledge of thy mother."
"But why does Mefres interfere? His single duty is to care for the temple, not influence the fate of the pharaoh's descendants."
"Mefres is an old man growing whimsical. The whole court of his holiness jeers at him because of practices, of which I know nothing, though I see the holy man almost daily."
"This is curious. What does he do?"
"A number of times during twenty-four hours he performs solemn services in the most secret parts of the temple, and he commands the priests to see if the gods do not hold him suspended while praying."
"Ha! ha!" laughed Ramses. "And all this is going on in Pi-Bast here under our eyes, and I do not know of it?"
"A priestly secret."
"A secret of which all in Memphis are talking! Ha! ha! ha! In the amphitheatre I saw a Chaldean suspended in the air."