The chief fell again to the pavement, and went out repressing his anger.
"Our lord the prince will repay you when he is the pharaoh!" thought he. "And he will pay you my part ye will see."
"Where is the prisoner?" asked the agents standing before the gate.
"In prison," answered the chief; "the hands of the gods have rested on him."
"And our reward?" asked the elder agent.
"The hands of the gods have rested on your reward also. Imagine then to yourselves that ye saw that prisoner only in a dream, ye will be safer in health and in service."
The agents dropped their heads in silence. But in their hearts they swore vengeance against the priests, who had taken a handsome reward from them.
After the chief had gone Mefres summoned a number of priests, and whispered something into the ears of the eldest. The priests surrounded the Greek and conducted him out of the chamber. Lykon made no resistance.
"I think," said Sem, "that this man should be brought before the court as a murderer."
"Never!" cried Mefres, with decision. "On this man weighs an incomparably greater crime, he is like the heir to the throne."