"My heart felt that our lord would turn from those unbelievers who are drinking the blood of the people. I think that it is proper for us to show him gratitude."
"And perhaps open the doors to our treasures?" asked Mefres, rudely. "Hasten not, worthiness, I have divined this young man woe to us if ever we let him get the upper hand."
"But if he has broken with the Phoenicians?"
"He will gain by that; for he will not pay his debts to them."
"In my opinion," said Herhor, after some thought, "now is the moment in which we can regain the favor of this youthful pharaoh. He is hasty in anger, but he knows how to be grateful. I have experienced that.
"Every word is an error," interrupted the stubborn Mefres. "First of all, this prince is not the pharaoh yet, for he has not been crowned in a temple. Second, he will never be a real pharaoh, since through contempt he will never be ordained a high priest. And finally, we do not need his favor, while he needs the favor of the gods, whom he insults at every step he makes."
Mefres, who had been panting from anger, stopped and began anew,
"He spent a month in the temple of Hator, he listened to the highest wisdom, and immediately afterward betook himself to the Phoenicians. What do I say? He visited the idol house of Astarte and took thence a priestess an offence against all religions. After that he reviled my piety, in public; conspired with such frivolous minds as his own, and with the aid of Phoenicians stole state secrets. And when he ascended the throne I speak incorrectly, when he had barely stood on the first step of the throne, he tried to make the priests odious; he disturbed the earth-tillers and the warriors, and renewed vows with his friends the Phoenicians.
"Dost thou, worthy Herhor, forget all this? And if Thou remember, dost Thou not understand the dangers which threaten us from this milksop? Still he has under his hand the rudder of the ship of state, which he pushes in among rocks and eddies. Who will assure me that this madman, who yesterday summoned to his presence the Phoenicians, but quarreled with them today, will not do something to-morrow which will expose Egypt to destruction?"
"And therefore, what?" inquired Herhor, looking into his eyes quickly.