et there was something in his
bearing and glances which suggested fear. He was a god who knows that
he is mortal and is therefore afraid lest at any moment he may be called
upon to lose his godship in his mortality.

Not that he dreaded the perils of the chase; he was too much of a man
for that. But how could he tell lest among all that crowd of crawling
nobles, there was not one who had a dagger ready for his back, or a
phial of poison to mix with his wine or water? He with all the world
in the hollow of his hand, was filled with secret terrors which as I
learned since first I seemed to see him thus, fulfilled themselves at
the appointed time. For this man of blood was destined to die in blood,
though not by murder.

The cavalcade halted. Presently a fat eunuch glittering in his
gold-wrought garments like some bronzed beetle in the sunlight, came
waddling back towards me. He was odious and I knew that we hated each
other.

"Greeting, Egyptian," he said, mopping his brow with his sleeve for
the sun was hot. "An honour for you! A great honour! The King of kings
commands your presence. Yes, he would speak with you with his own lips,
and with that abortion of a servant of yours also. Come! Come swiftly!"

"Swift as an arrow, Houman," I answered laughing, "seeing that for three
moons I, like an arrow, have rested upon the string and flown no nearer
to his Majesty."

"Three moons!" screeched the eunuch. "Why, many wait three years and
many go to the grave still waiting; bigger men than you, Egyptian,
though I hear you do claim to be of royal blood yonder on the Nile.
But talk not of arrows flying towards the most High, for surely it is
ill-omened and might earn you another honour, that of the string," and
he made a motion suggestive of a cord encircling his throat. "Man, leave
your bow behind! Would you appear before the King armed? Yes, and your
dagger also."

"Perchance a lion might appear before the King and he does not leave
his claws and teeth behind," I answered drily as I divested myself of my
weapons.

Then we started, the three of us, leaving the chariot in charge of a
soldier.

"Draw your sleeves over your hands," said the eunuch. "None must
appear before the King showing his hands, and, dwarf, since you have no
sleeves, thrust yours into your robe."

"What am I to do with my feet?" he answered in a thick, guttural voice.
"Will it offend the King of kings to see my feet, most noble eunuch?"

"Cert