elchites I will be hewn in
pieces, and my wife and children with me. Who knows what may be coming to
pass? And there are many advantages in going over to your side: for the
power is in your hands, and long may you keep it! We have got to be ruled
by strangers; and who would not rather pay small tribute to the wise and
healthy Khalif at Medina than a heavy one to the sickly imperial brood of
Melchites at Constantinople. The Mukaukas George, to be sure, is not a
bad sort of man, and as he so soon gave up all idea of resisting you he
was no doubt of my opinion. Regarding you as just and pious folks, as our
next neighbors, and perhaps even of our own race and blood, he preferred
you--my brother told me so--to those Byzantine heretics, flayers of men
and thirsting for blood, but yet, the Mukaukas is as good a Christian as
breathes."

The Arab had listened attentively and with a subtle smile to the
Memphite, whose duties as guide now compelled him to break off. The
Egyptian made the whole caravan turn down an alley that led into a street
running parallel to the river, where a few fine houses still stood in the
midst of their gardens. When men and beasts were making their way along a
better pavement the merchant observed: "I knew the father of the man you
were speaking of, very well. He was wealthy and virtuous; of his son too
I hear nothing but good. But is he still allowed to bear the title of
governor, or, what did you call him?--Mukaukas?"

"Certainly, Master," said the guide. "There is no older family than his
in all Egypt, and if old Menas was rich the Mukaukas is richer, both by
inheritance and by his wife's dower. Nor could we wish for a more
sensible or a juster governor! He keeps his eye on his underlings too;
still, business is not done now as briskly as formerly, for though he is
not much older than I am--and I am not yet sixty--he is always ailing and
has not been seen out of the house for months. Even when your chief wants
to see him he comes over to this side of the river. It is a pity with
such a man as he; and who was it that broke down his stalwart strength?
Why, those Melchite dogs; you may ask all along the Nile, long as it is,
who was at the bottom of any misfortune, and you will always get the same
answer: Wherever the Melchite or the Greek sets foot the grass refuses to
grow."

"But the Mukaukas, the emperor's representative . . . the Arab began. The
Egyptian broke in however:

"He, you think, must b