uld
have to sit down to think of it properly."

"Sit down then."

"For a talent," said Dagon, sitting in an armchair comfortably, "a man
can have twelve gold chains, or sixty beautiful milch cows, or ten
slaves for labor, or one slave to play on the flute or paint, and maybe
even to cure. A talent is tremendous property."

The prince's eyes flashed,

"Then Thou hast not fifteen talents?"

The terrified Phoenician slipped suddenly from the chair to the floor.

"Who in the city," cried he, "has not money at thy command, O child of
the sun? It is true that I am a wretch whose gold, precious stones, and
whole property is not worth one glance of thine, O prince, but if I go
around among our merchants and say who sent me, I shall get fifteen
talents even from beneath the earth. Erpatr, if Thou shouldst stand
before a withered fig-tree and say 'Give money!' the fig-tree would pay
thee a ransom. But do not look at me in that way, O son of Horus, for I
feel a pain in the pit of my heart and my mind is growing blunted,"
finished the Phoenician, in tones of entreaty.

"Well, sit in the chair, sit in the chair," said the prince, laughing.

Dagon rose from the floor and disposed himself still more agreeably in
the armchair.

"For how long a time does the prince wish fifteen talents?"

"Certainly for a year."

"Let us say at once three years. Only his holiness might give back
fifteen talents in the course of a year, but not the youthful heir, who
must receive young pleasant nobles and beautiful women. Ah, those
women! Is it true, with thy permission, that Thou hast taken to thyself
Sarah the daughter of Gideon?"

"But what per cent dost Thou wish?" interrupted Ramses.

"A trifle, which thy sacred lips need not mention. For fifteen talents
the prince will give five talents yearly, and in the course of three
years I will take back all myself, so that thou, worthiness, wilt not
even know."

"Thou wilt give me today fifteen talents, and during three years take
back thirty?"

"Egyptian law permits percentage to equal the loan," answered Dagon,
confusedly.

"But is that not too much?"

"Too much?" cried out Dagon. "Every great lord has a great court, a
great property, and pays no per cent save a great one. I should be
ashamed to take less from the heir to the throne; if I did the prince
himself might command to beat me with sticks and to drive me out of his
presence."

"When wilt Thou bring the money?"

"Bring it