"Hast Thou heard vile reports about our sovereign, which the enemies of the state are spreading?"
"If it be a question of my daughter Hebron," replied the nomarch quickly, "I declare that Thou art her lord today, and canst have no question with me."
Tutmosis waved his hand with indifference.
"Some vile persons are reporting that the pharaoh is insane. Hast heard of this, my father?"
Antefa nodded and turned his head motions which meant equally that he had, or that he had not. At last he said,
"Stupidity is as great as the ocean; everything finds a place in it."
"This is not stupidity," replied Tutmosis, "but a crime of the priests, who have in their possession a man who resembles his holiness, and they make use of him for evil purposes." And he told the nomarch the story of the Greek Lykon, and his crime in Pi-Bast.
"I have heard of this Lykon who killed the son of the heir," said Antefa. "But hast Thou proof that Mefres imprisoned Lykon in Pi-Bast, that he brought him to Thebes, and that he lets him enter the gardens of the pharaoh to counterfeit the sovereign as insane?"
"Just because I have not proof of this do I ask thee, worthiness, what to do. I am the commander of the guard and I must watch over the honor and safety of our sovereign."
"What Thou must do?" repeated Antefa. "Well, first of all take care that these vile reports do not reach the ears of the pharaoh."