"I do not know whether Thou wilt be able to hear us," answered the anxious Mentezufis.
"Ah! do ye think that I am tipsy?" cried the prince. "Have no fear. Today all Egypt is either so mad or so stupid that most sense is found among drinkers."
The priests frowned, but Mentezufis began,
"Thou knowest, worthiness, that our lord and the supreme council determined to disband twenty thousand mercenary warriors?"
"Well, if I do not know?" said the heir. "Ye have not deigned to ask my advice in a question so difficult to determine, ye have not even thought it worth while to inform me that four regiments are disbanded, and that those men, because of hunger, are attacking our cities."
"It seems to me, worthiness, that Thou art criticizing the commands of his holiness the pharaoh," interrupted Mentezufis.
"Not of his holiness!" cried the prince, stamping, "but of those traitors who, taking advantage of the sickness of my father, wish to sell Egypt to Assyrians and Libyans."
The priests were astounded. No Egyptian had ever used words of that kind.
"Permit, prince, that we return in a couple of hours, when Thou shalt have calmed thyself," said Mefres.
"There is no need of that. I know what is happening on our western boundary. Or rather it is not I who know, but my cooks, stable-boys, and laundrymen. Perhaps then ye will have the goodness, worthy fathers, to communicate your plans to me."