"They will fear Osiris."
"But where is he?" asked the indignant nomarch of Aa.
"Ye will see him. But happy the man who will be blind on that day."
Herhor spoke with such calm solemnity that silence settled on the assembly.
"But what shall we do?" asked the judge after a while.
"The pharaoh," said Herhor, "wishes the people to attack the temple on the 23d. We must make them attack us on the 20th of Paofi."
"The gods live through eternity!" cried the nomarch of Aa, raising his hands. "But why should we bring misfortune on our heads, and besides two days earlier?"
"Listen to Herhor," said Mefres with a voice of decision; "try by all means that the attack be made on the morning of the 20th."
"But if they beat us in fact?" inquired the judge in confusion.
"If Herhor's spells fail I will call the gods to assist us," replied
Mefres, and in his eyes was an ominous glitter.