"Do not. If Thou knew what jewels we have in the heavens Thou wouldst not hasten with an offering of gold. Well, hast Thou come to stay with us?"
Pentuer shook his head.
"No," replied he, "I have come only to bow down before thee, divine teacher."
"And again to court?" laughed the old man. "Oh ye, ye courtiers! If ye knew what ye lose by deserting wisdom for palaces ye would be the saddest of mankind."
"Art Thou alone, O my teacher?"
"As a palm in a desert, especially today when my deaf and dumb servant has gone with a basket to Memphis to beg something for the mother of Ra and her chaplain."
"And is it not disagreeable here?"
"For me! "'exclaimed Menes. "Since I saw thee last I have snatched from the gods some secrets which I would not give for the two crowns of Egypt."
"Are they secrets between thee and me?" inquired Pentuer.
"How, secrets? A year ago I completed all measures and calculations touching the size of the earth."