"We shall have trouble with the Nile," said Tutmosis.
"Then let every boat and barge be held at the arms of the Nile to ferry over troops. We must summon every nomarch to occupy himself in fitting out reserves."
Meanwhile Mefres and Mentezufis returned to their dwellings in the temple of Ptah. When they were alone in a cell, the high priest raised his hands, and exclaimed,
"O Trinity of immortal gods, Osiris, Isis, and Horus, save Egypt from destruction! Since the world became the world, no pharaoh has ever uttered so many blasphemies as we have heard today from that stripling. What do I say, pharaoh? No enemy of Egypt, no Hittite, Phoenician, or Libyan has ever dared so to insult priestly immunity."
"Wine makes a man transparent," answered Mentezufis.
"But in that youthful heart is a nest of serpents. He insults the priestly rank, he jeers at miracles, he has no belief in gods."
"But this concerns me most," said Mentezufis, thoughtfully, "how did he learn of our negotiations with. Beroes? for he knows them, I will swear to that."
"A dreadful treason has been committed," added Mefres, seizing his head.
"A very wonderful thing! There were four of us."
"Not at all four of us. The elder priestess of Isis knew of Beroes, two priests who showed him the road to the temple of Set, and a priest who received him at the door. But wait! that priest spends all his time in underground places. But if he overheard?"