"About the disorder which reigns here. About this, that ye are no longer a government, but a group of officers and officials whom the priests send whithersoever they wish and whensoever it pleases them. For three days there is such terrible confusion in Lower Egypt that the people are killing us, your only friends, the Phoenicians. And why is this? Because government has dropped from jour hands, and the priests have seized it."
"Thou speakest thus for Thou knowest not the position," replied Tutmosis. "It is true that the priests thwart us and organize attacks on Phoenicians. But power is in the hands of the pharaoh; events move in general according to his orders."
"And the attack on the temple of Ptah?" inquired Hiram.
"Was ordered by the pharaoh. I was present at the confidential council, during which the pharaoh gave command to take possession of the temples today instead of the 23d."
"Well, I declare to thee, commander of the guard, that ye are lost, for I know to a certainty that the attack of today was decided on at a council of high priests and nomarchs in the temple of Ptah, which was held on Paofi 13."
"Why should they arrange an attack on themselves?" asked Tutmosis in a jeering voice.
"They must have had some reason for it. And I have convinced myself that they manage their affairs better than ye manage yours."
Further conversation was interrupted by an adjutant summoning Tutmosis to his holiness.
"But but," added Hiram, "your soldiers have stopped on the path the priest Pentuer, who has something important to convey to the pharaoh."
Tutmosis seized his own head, and sent officers immediately to find Pentuer. Then he ran to the pharaoh, and after a while returned and commanded the Phoenician to follow him.