and of the Royal Lady, Amada, freed from her vows.
Moreover, I will give her the pearls as a marriage dowry and place at
your service my sword and all the knowledge I have gained in the East,
swearing to stand or fall with you."

"I thought it, Shabaka. Well, in this world nothing is given for nothing
and the offer is a fair one. You are well born, too, as well as myself,
and a brave and clever man. Further, Amada has not taken her final vows
and therefore the high priests can absolve her from her marriage to
the goddess, or to her son Horus, whichever it may be, for I do not
understand these mysteries. But, Shabaka, if Fortune should chance to go
with us and I should became the first Pharaoh of a new dynasty in Egypt,
he who was married to the Royal Princess of the true blood might become
a danger to my throne and family."

"I shall not be that man, Prince, who am content with my own station,
and to be your servant."

"And my son's, Shabaka? You know that I have but one lawful son."

"And your son's, Prince."

"You are honest, Shabaka, and I believe you. But how about your sons,
if you have any, and how about Amada herself? Well, in great businesses
something must be risked, and I need the gold and the rest which I
cannot take for nothing, for you won them by your skill and courage and
they are yours. But how you won the seal you have not told us, nor is
there time for you to do so now."

He thought a little, walking up and down the chamber, then went on,

"I accept your offer, Shabaka, so far as I can."

"So far as you can, Prince?"

"Yes; I can give you Amada in marriage and make that marriage easy, but
only if Amada herself consents. The will of a Royal Princess of Egypt of
full age cannot be forced, save by her father if he reigns as Pharaoh,
and I am not her father, but only her guardian. Therefore it stands
thus. Are you willing to fulfil your part of the bargain, save only as
regards the pearls, if she does not marry you, and to take your chance
of winning Amada as a man wins a woman, I on my part promising to do all
in my power to help your suit?"

Now it was my turn to think for a moment. What did I risk? The gold and
perhaps the pearls, no more, for in any case I should fight for Peroa
against the Eastern king whom I hated, and through him for Egypt. Well,
these came to me by chance, and if they went by chance what of it? Also
I was not one who desired to wed a woman, however much I worshipped
her