since those gems are a great possession with which any
Satrap could buy a larger satrapy."

"Let him go," said Peroa, and the man rose, rubbing himself and weeping
in his pain.

"Now, Butler," he went on, "return to your master with a grateful heart,
since you have been spared much that you deserve. Say to him that he
cannot steal the Signet, but that if he is wise he will obey it, since
otherwise his fate may be worse than yours, and to all his servants say
the same. Foolish man, how can you, or your master, guess what is in
the mind of the Great King, or for what purpose the Signet of signets is
here in Egypt? Beware lest you fall into a pit, all of you together, and
let Idernes beware lest he find himself at the very bottom of that pit."

"O Prince, I will beware," said the humbled butler, "and whatever is
written over the seal, that I will obey, like many others."

"You are wise," answered Peroa; "I pray for his own sake that the Satrap
Idernes may be as wise. Now begone, thanking whatever god you worship
that your life is whole in you and that your right hand remains upon
your wrist."

So the butler and those with him prostrated themselves before Peroa
and bowed humbly to me and even to Bes because in their hearts now they
believed that we were clothed by the Great King with terrible powers
that might destroy them all, if so we chose. Then they went, the butler
limping a little and with no pride left in him.

"That was good work," said Peroa to me afterwards when we were alone,
"for now yonder knave is frightened and will frighten his master."

"Yes," I answered, "you played that pipe well, Prince. Still, there is
no time to lose, since before another moon this will all be reported in
the East, whence a new light may arise and perchance a new signet."

"You say you stole the White Seal?" he asked.

"Nay, Prince, the truth is that Bes bought it--in a certain fashion--and
I used it. Perhaps it is well that you should know no more at present."

"Perhaps," he answered, and we parted, for he had much to do.

That afternoon the Council met again. At it I gave over the gold and by
help of it all was arranged. Within a week ten thousand armed men would
be in Memphis and a hundred ships with their crews upon the Nile; also
a great army would be gathering in Upper Egypt, officered for the most
part by Greeks skilled in war. The Greek cities too at the mouths of the
Nile would be ready to revolt, or so some of thei