The treasurer shook his head.
Ramses passed the space between his villa and that of Tutmosis quickly. When he entered her chamber Hebron threw herself on his neck with weeping.
"I am dying of fear!" cried she.
"Art Thou alarmed for Tutmosis?"
"What is Tutmosis to me?" answered Hebron, with a contemptuous grimace. "I care for thee only! Of thee only am I thinking, I am alarmed for thee!"
"Blessed be thy alarm which freed me even for a moment from tedium," said the pharaoh, laughing. "O gods! what a day! If Thou hadst heard our discussions, if Thou hadst seen the faces of our counselors! And in addition to all, it pleased the worthy queen to honor our assembly with her presence. Never bad I supposed that the dignity of pharaoh could be so annoying."
"Do not say this audibly," cautioned Hebron. "What wilt Thou do if
Tutmosis does not succeed in seizing the temple?"
"I will take the leadership from him, hide my crown in a box, and put on an officer's helmet," answered Ramses. "I am certain that when I appear at the head of the troops myself the sedition will vanish."
"Which one?" inquired Hebron.
"Ah, true, we have two," laughed Ramses. "That of the people against the priests, that of the priests against me."