"Art Thou not afraid of treason, lord?" asked Tutmosis.
The pharaoh waved his hand with indifference. "Treason is always leaking out like water from a swollen barrel. It will be difficult for the high priests to divine my plans, while I know what they wish. But as I have anticipated them in collecting forces they will be weaker. Regiments are not formed in a few days."
"But enchantments?" inquired Tutmosis.
"There are no enchantments which an axe will not shatter," said Ramses, laughing.
Tutmosis wished at that moment to mention the tricks of the high priests with Lykon, but he was restrained by the thought that his lord would be very angry and lose calmness, through which he was powerful on that day. A chief before battle can think of nothing but action, and there would be time enough for Lykon's case when the priests were in prison.
At a sign from his holiness Tutmosis remained in the chamber, but the three other dignitaries made low obeisances and vanished.
"At last!" sighed the chief scribe, when he found himself with the treasurer in the antechamber, "at last the power of the shaven heads is ending."
"Indeed it is time," said the treasurer. "During the last ten years any prophet had more power than the nomarch of Thebes or of Memphis."
"I think that Herhor is preparing in secret a boat in which to flee before the 23d of Paofi," put in Kalippos.
"What will be done to Herhor?" said the scribe. "His holiness, who is terrible today, will forgive him when he is obedient."