The pharaoh thought that this priest was not a bad man, though he had betrayed a temple secret. And moreover, he seemed wise and he spoke truth.
"Hast Thou heard anything," inquired Ramses again, "of a canal which is to join the Red Sea with the Mediterranean?"
"I know of that affair. Our engineers have been developing the project for some centuries."
"But why has it not been carried out ere this time?"
"Because the priests are afraid that strangers would come who might undermine our religion, and with it the priestly income."
"Is there truth in what Hiram says of people living in the distant
East?"
"Perfect truth. We know of them for a long time, and no ten years pass that we do not receive from those countries products, precious stones, or pictures."
The pharaoh meditated again, and asked suddenly,
"Wilt Thou serve me faithfully if I make thee my counselor?"
"I will serve thee, holiness, with life and death. But were I to become thy counselor, the priests, who hate me, would be indignant."