When Pentuer prostrated himself the pharaoh raised him and said with a smile,
"Thou didst not sign my election, Thou didst not give me homage, and I fear that I shall have to arrest thee some time in the temple of Ptah. Well, hast Thou been thinking to leave me? Dost prefer Menes?"
"Forgive, holiness," answered the priest, "but court life has so wearied me that my only desire is to learn wisdom."
"Thou canst not forget Ramses?" inquired Herhor. "And yet Thou knewest him only a very short time, while Thou hast labored with me during years."
"Blame me not, holiness, but Ramses XIII was the first pharaoh to commiserate the Egyptian people."
Herhor smiled.
"O ye learned men," said he, shaking his head. "But it was Thou who didst turn the attention of Ramses to the people, and now Thou bearest mourning for him in thy heart, though he did nothing whatever for the people. It was Thou who commiserated, not he. Ye are strange men, in spite of your powerful minds," continued Herhor. "It is the same thing with Menes. That priest considers that he is the most peaceful man in Egypt, though it was he who overturned the dynasty and smoothed the road to power for me. Were it not for his letter about the eclipse of the sun on the 20th of Paofi, perhaps I and the late Mefres would be splitting stones now in the quarries.
"Well, go; go and greet Menes for me. Remember also that I know how to be thankful, which is the great secret of ruling. Tell Menes that I shall carry out every wish of his, unless he asks me, for example, to abdicate. Return to me when Thou hast rested, I will keep an important place for thee."
And he touched Pentuer's head, which was inclined submissively.
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