n waiting for me, entered by another
door. He was a majestic-looking man of middle age, for grey showed in
his hair and beard, clad in white garments with a purple hem and wearing
on his brow a golden circlet, from the front of which rose the _uraeus_
in the shape of a hooded snake that might be worn by those of royal
blood alone. His face was full of thought and his black and piercing
eyes looked heavy as though with sleeplessness. Indeed I could see that
he was troubled. His gaze fell upon us and his features changed to a
pleasant smile.

"Greeting, Cousin Shabaka," he said. "I am glad that you have returned
safe from the East, and burn to hear your tidings. I pray that they may
be good, for never was good news more needed in Egypt."

"Greeting, Prince," I answered, bowing my knee. "I and my servant here
are returned safe, but as for our tidings, well, judge of them for
yourself," and drawing the letter of the Great King from my robe, I
touched my forehead with the roll and handed it to him.

"I see that you have acquired the Eastern customs, Shabaka," he said as
he took it. "But here in my own house which once was the palace of our
forefathers, the Pharaohs of Egypt, by your leave I will omit them. Amen
be my witness," he added bitterly, "I cannot bear to lay the letter of a
foreign king against my brow in token of my country's vassalage."

Then he broke the silk of the seals and read, and as he read his face
grew black with rage.

"What!" he cried, casting down the roll and stamping on it. "What! Does
this dog of an Eastern king bid me send my niece, by birth the Royal
Princess of Egypt, to be his toy until he wearies of her? First I will
choke her with my own hands. How comes it, Shabaka, that you care to
bring me such a message? Were I Pharaoh now I think your life would pay
the price."

"As it would certainly have paid the price, had I not done so. Prince,
I brought the letter because I must. Also a copy of it has gone, I
believe, to Idernes the Satrap at Sais. It is better to face the truth,
Prince, and I think that I may be of more service to you alive than
dead. If you do not wish to send the lady Amada to the King, marry her
to someone else, after which he will seek her no more."

He looked at me shrewdly and said,

"To whom then? I cannot marry her, being her uncle and already married.
Do you mean to yourself, Shabaka?"

"I have loved the lady Amada from a child, Prince," I answered boldly.
"Also