"I am today a captive of the priests. They murder prisoners, they threaten officers, they do not even respect my duties. Did ye say nothing to Mentezufis when he commanded to kill those unfortunate prisoners?"
"He shielded himself with military laws, and new orders from Herhor."
"But it is I who am leader here, though I went out for half a day."
"Thou didst give the leadership explicitly into my hands and into those of Patrokles," answered Tutmosis. "But when the holy Mentezufis came we had to yield to him, for he is our superior."
The prince thought that the seizure of Tehenna was in every case purchased with surpassing misfortunes. At the same time he felt in all its force the significance of the maxim that a chief must never leave his army. He had to confess his error, but that irritated his pride the more and filled him with hatred for the priesthood.
"Behold," said he, "I am in captivity even before I have become the pharaoh, may his holiness live through eternity. So today I must begin to work myself out of this slavery, and first of all to be silent. Pentuer is right: I must be silent always, and put away my anger, like precious jewels into the storehouse of memory. But when it is full, ye will pay me, O prophets."
"Thou dost not inquire, worthiness, for the results of the battle," said Tutmosis.
"Aha, just that. What are they?"
"More than two thousand prisoners, more than three thousand killed, and barely a few hundred escaped."
"What, then, was the Libyan army?" asked the astonished prince.