"Hiram," said he, controlling himself no longer, "I give thee permission this day to dig a canal which shall join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean."
The old man fell at the feet of the pharaoh.
"Thou art the greatest sovereign ever seen on earth," said he.
"For the time Thou art not permitted to speak of this to any one, because the enemies of my glory are watching. But that Thou shouldst feel certain, I give thee this from my own finger."
He took from his finger a ring adorned with a magic stone on which was engraved the name Horns, and put it on the finger of the Phoenician.
"The property of all Phoenicia is at thy command," said Hiram, moved profoundly. "Thou wilt accomplish a work which will herald thy name till the sun quenches."
The pharaoh pressed Hiram's iron-gray head and commanded him to sit down before him.
"And so we are allies," said he, after a while, "and I hope that from this will rise prosperity for Egypt and Phoenicia."
"For the whole world," added Hiram.
"But tell me, prince, whence hast Thou such confidence in me?"