"I know thy noble character, holiness. If thou, sovereign, wert not a pharaoh, in a few years Thou wouldst become the most renowned of Phoenician merchants and the chief of our council."
"Let us suppose that," replied Ramses. "But I, to keep my promises, must first bend the priests. That is a struggle the issue of which is uncertain."
Hiram smiled.
"Lord," said he, "if we were so insignificant as to abandon thee today when thy treasury is empty, and thy enemies are insolent, Thou wouldst lose the battle. For a man deprived of means loses daring easily; from an impoverished king his armies turn away as well as his dignitaries and his subjects. But if thou, sovereign, have our gold and our agents, with thy army and thy generals Thou wilt have as much trouble with the priests as an elephant with a scorpion. Thou wilt barely set thy foot on them and they will be crushed beneath it. But this is not my affair. The high priest Samentu is waiting in the garden, he whom Thou hast summoned. I withdraw; it is his hour. But I refuse not the money. Command me to the extent of thirty thousand talents."
He fell on his face again and then withdrew, promising that Samentu would present himself straightway.
In half an hour the high priest appeared. As became one who honored Set he did not shave his red beard and shaggy hair; he had a severe face, but eyes full of intellect. He bowed without excessive humility and met the soul-piercing gaze of the pharaoh with calmness.
"Be seated," said the pharaoh.
The high priest sat on the floor.
"Thou pleasest me," said Ramses. "Thou hast the bearing and the face of a Hyksos, and they are the most valiant troops in my army." Then he inquired, on a sudden,
"Art Thou the man who informed Hiram of the treaty of our priests with
Assyria?"