"But if that was a spirit?"
He did not wish to sup, but betook himself to rest. It seemed to him that he could not sleep; but weariness won the victory over irritation.
In a few hours bells and a light woke him. It was midnight and the astrologer priest came to make a report on the position of the heavenly bodies. The pharaoh heard the report, and said at the end of it,
"Couldst thou, revered prophet, make thy report to the worthy Sem hereafter? He is my substitute in matters touching religion."
The astrologer wondered greatly at the indifference of his lord to affair? of the heavens.
"Art them pleased, holiness," inquired he, "to refuse those indications which the stars give to rulers?"
"Do they give them?" asked the pharaoh. "Tell what they promise me."
Clearly the astrologer had looked for the question, so he answered directly,
"The horizon is darkened for the moment. The lord of light has not come yet to the road of truth which leads to knowledge of the divine will. But sooner or later he will find both long life and a happy reign filled with glory."
"Aha! I thank thee, holy man. And as soon as I know what to seek I will accommodate myself to the indication. But again I beg thee to communicate henceforth with the holy Sem. He is my substitute, but shouldst Thou read anything in the stars Thou wilt tell me of it in the morning."