But, making no answer, Kaku wrenched himself free and fled the place.
CHAPTER XIII
ABI LEARNS THE TRUTH
A moon had gone by, and on the first day of the new month Kaku the
Vizier sat in the Hall of the Great Officers at Memphis, checking the
public accounts of the city. It was not easy work, for during the past
ten days twice these accounts had been sent back to him by the command
of the Queen, or the Pharaoh as she called herself, with requests
for information as to their items, and other awkward queries. Abi had
overlooked such matters, recognising that a faithful servant was worthy
of his hire--provided that he paid himself. But now it seemed that
things were different, and that the amount received was the exact amount
that had to be handed over to the Crown, neither more nor less. Well,
there was a large discrepancy which must be made up from somewhere, or,
in other words, from Kaku's private store.
In a rage he caused the two head collectors of taxes to be brought
before him, and as they would not pay, bade the executioners throw
them down and beat them on the feet until they promised to produce the
missing sums, most of which he himself had stolen.
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