e hundred and
forty-eight measures of wheat had vanished.

"During the verification two laborers stole a measure of grain and hid
it among bricks. When this was proven they were brought to judgment and
sent to the quarries for raising their hands to the property of his
holiness."

"But the hundred and forty-eight measures?" asked the heir.

"The mice ate them," replied the scribe, and read on.

"On the eighth day of Thoth twenty cows and eighty-four sheep were sent
to the slaughter; these, at command of the overseer of oxen, were
issued to the Sparrow-Hawk regiment."

In this manner the viceroy learned day after day how much wheat,
barley, beans, and lotus seed were weighed into the granaries, how much
given out to the mills, how much stolen, and how many laborers were
condemned to the quarries for stealing. The report was so wearisome and
chaotic that in the middle of the month Paophi the prince gave command
to stop reading.

"Tell me, chief scribe," said Ramses, "what dost Thou understand from
this? What dost Thou learn from it?"

"Everything which thy worthiness commands."

And he began again at the beginning, but from memory,

"On the fifth of the month Thoth they brought to the granaries of the
pharaoh."

"Enough!" cried the enraged prince; and he commanded the man to depart.

The scribes fell on their faces, gathered up their papyruses quickly,
and bore them away in a twinkle.

The prince summoned the nomarch. He came with crossed hands, but with a
calm face, for he had learned from the scribes that the viceroy could
understand nothing from reports, and that he did not give ear to them.

"Tell me, worthiness," began the heir, "do they read reports to thee?"

"Every day."

"And dost Thou understand them?"

"Pardon, most worthy lord, but could I manage a province if I did not
understand?"

The prince was confused and fell to thinking. Could it be really that
he, Ramses, was the only incompetent? But in this case what would
become of his power?

"Sit down," said he, after a while, indicating a chair to the nomarch.
"Sit down and tell me how Thou governest the province."

The dignitary grew pale, and the whites of his eyes turned upward.
Ramses noticed this, and began explaining,

"Do not think that I have not trust in thy wisdom. On the contrary, I
know no man who could manage better. But I am young and curious to know
the art of government, so I beg thee to deal out to me crumbs of thy
kno