"Do," said he, "as ye think proper."
"But if they will not give us the body?"
"Prepare the funeral pile; I will attend to the rest of the ceremony."
The Greeks left the tent. The prince sent for Mentezufis.
CHAPTER XLVII
THE priest observed the heir stealthily, and found him much changed. Ramses was pale; he had almost grown thin in a few hours; his eyes had lost their glitter and had sunk beneath his forehead.
When Mentezufis heard what the Greeks had in mind he did not hesitate a moment to surrender the body of Patrokles.
"The Greeks are right," said the holy man, "in thinking that we have power to torment the shade of Patrokles, but they are fools to suppose that any priest of Chaldea or Egypt would permit such a crime. Let them take the body of their compatriot, if they think that after death he will be happier under protection of their own rites."
The prince sent an officer straightway with the needful order, but he detained Mentezufis. Evidently he wished to say something to him, though he hesitated.
After some silence Ramses asked suddenly,