"This is Herhor's work!" thought he. "Priests alone could have news from Thebes so promptly."
For the moment he lost desire to busy himself in finding delegates, but he regained energy at the thought that what the people received today they would not lose to-morrow, unless something uncommon should happen.
Beyond Memphis to the north of the pyramids and the sphinx, on the boundary of the desert, was a small temple of the goddess Nut. An old priest Menes lived in that temple. This sage had more knowledge of the stars than any man in Egypt; he was an engineer in addition.
When a great public edifice was to be built or a new canal made, Menes went to the place and gave directions. Apart from such tasks he lived in solitude and poverty in his temple; at night he investigated the stars, in the daytime he worked over curious instruments.
For some years Pentuer had not been in that place; hence he was struck by neglect in it, and poverty. The brick wall was falling, in the garden the trees were withering, in the yard a lean goat moved around and a few hens were scratching.
There was no one near the temple. Only after Pentuer had called out did an old man come down from a pylon. His feet were bare, on his head was a soiled cap like that of a laborer, around his waist was a ragged girdle, and on his shoulder a panther skin from which the hair had fallen. Still, his bearing was dignified, and his face full of wisdom. He looked quickly at the guest and said,
"Either I am mistaken, or Thou art Pentuer?"
"I am he," answered the newly arrived, and he embraced the old man with heartiness.
"Ho! ho!" exclaimed Menes, for it was he; "I see that Thou hast changed for official reasons. Thou hast a smoother face, whiter hands, and a gold chain on thy neck. Mother Nut of the heavenly ocean would have to wait long for such ornaments."
Pentuer wished to remove the chain, but Menes stopped him with a smile.