"Dost Thou know," asked the pharaoh, "that the priests have refused me a loan, though the treasury is empty?"
Tutmosis straightened himself, and asked,
"Wilt Thou command to take them to prison?"
"Wouldst thou?"
"There is not an officer in Egypt who would hesitate to carry out an order from our lord and leader."
"In that case," said the pharaoh, deliberately, "there is no need to imprison any one. I have too much power on my side and too much contempt for the priesthood. A man does not put into a box bound with iron the carrion which he meets on the highway; he merely passes around it."
"But a hyena is confined in a cage," whispered Tutmosis.
"It is too early yet. I must be gracious to those men, at least till my father is buried or they might commit some indignity on his revered mummy, and destroy his spirit. But go tomorrow to Hiram and tell him to send me that priest of whom we have spoken."
"That will be done. But I must remind thee, holiness, that today people attacked Phoenician houses in Memphis."
"Oho! That was not needed."