He confessed in spirit that the food was well prepared and the wine exquisite. He could not free himself from the thought, however, that the court kitchen must swallow immense sums of money.
Having burnt incense to his ancestors, the pharaoh betook himself to his cabinet to hear reports from ministers.
Herhor came first. He bent down before his lord much lower than he had when greeting him, and congratulated Ramses on his victory at the Soda Lakes with great enthusiasm.
"Thou didst rush," said he, "holiness, on the Libyans like Typhon on the miserable tents of wanderers through the desert. Thou hast won a great battle with very small losses, and with one blow of thy divine sword hast finished a war, the end of which was unseen by us common men."
The pharaoh felt his dislike toward the minister decreasing.
"For this cause," continued the high priest, "the supreme council implores thee, holiness, to appoint ten talents' reward to the valiant regiments. Do thou, as supreme chief, permit that to thy name be added 'The Victorious.'."
Counting on the youth of the pharaoh, Herhor exaggerated in flattery.
Ramses recovered from his delight and replied on a sudden,
"What wouldst Thou add to my name had I destroyed the Assyrian army and filled our temples with the riches of Nineveh and Babylon?"
"So he is always dreaming of that?" thought the high priest.
The pharaoh, as if to confirm Herhor's fears, changed the subject.