The haruspex did not contradict his chief; for he knew that when Ameni’s eyes flashed so suddenly, and his demeanor, usually so measured, was as restless as at present, something serious was brewing.

The high-priest understood what was passing in Septah’s mind.

“You do not understand me now,” said he.  “But this evening, at the meeting of the initiated, you shall know all.  Great events are stirring.  The brethren in the temple of Anion, on the other shore, have fallen off from what must always be the Holiest to us white-robed priests, and will stand in our way when the time for action is arrived.  At the feast of the valley we shall stand in competition with the brethren from Thebes.  All Thebes will be present at the solemn service, and it must be proved which knows how to serve the Divinity most worthily, they or we.  We must avail ourselves of all our resources, and Pentaur we certainly cannot do without.  He must fill the function of Cherheb

     [Cherheb was the title of the speaker or reciter at a festival.  We
     cannot agree with those who confuse this personage with the chief of
     the Kolchytes.]

for to-morrow only; the day after he must be brought to judgment.  Among the rebellious boys are our best singers, and particularly young Anana, who leads the voices of the choir-boys.

“I will examine the silly fellows at once.  Rameri—­Rameses’ son—­was among the young miscreants?”

“He seems to have been the ring-leader,” answered Septah.

Ameni looked at the old man with a significant smile, and said: 

“The royal family are covering themselves with honor!  His eldest daughter must be kept far from the temple and the gathering of the pious, as being unclean and refractory, and we shall be obliged to expel his son too from our college.  You look horrified, but I say to you that the time for action is come.  More of this, this evening.  Now, one question:  Has the news of the death of the ram of Anion reached you?  Yes?  Rameses himself presented him to the God, and they gave it his name.  A bad omen.”

“And Apis too is dead!” The haruspex threw up his arms in lamentation.

“His Divine spirit has returned to God,” replied Ameni.  “Now we have much to do.  Before all things we must prove ourselves equal to those in Thebes over there, and win the people over to our side.  The panegyric prepared by us for to-morrow must offer some great novelty.  The Regent Ani grants us a rich contribution, and—­”

“And,” interrupted Septah, “our thaumaturgists understand things very differently from those of the house of Anion, who feast while we practise.”

Ameni nodded assent, and said with a smile:  “Also we are more indispensable than they to the people.  They show them the path of life, but we smooth the way of death.  It is easier to find the way without a guide in the day-light than in the dark.  We are more than a match for the priests of Anion.”