his camp was reported to be strongly entrenched
and flanked on one side by the Nile and on the other by the rising
ground whereon stood the great sphinx and the pyramids. Others, among
whom I was numbered, thought otherwise, for I hold that some evil god
led me to give counsel that day which, if it were good for Egypt was
most ill for my own fortunes. Perchance this god was Isis, angry at the
loss of her votary.

I pointed out that by receiving Idernes Peroa would gain time which
would enable a body of three thousand men, if not more, who were
advancing down the Nile, to join us before they were perhaps cut off
from the city, and thus give us a force as large as his, or larger. Also
I showed that having summoned Idernes under the Signet, we should put
ourselves in the wrong if we refused to receive him and instead attacked
him at once.

A third party was in favour of allowing him to enter Memphis with his
guard and then making him prisoner or killing him. As to this I pointed
out again that not only would it involve the breaking of a solemn oath,
which might bring the curse of the gods upon our cause and proclaim us
traitors to the world, but it would also be foolish since Idernes was
not the only general of the Easterns and if we cut off him and his
escort, it would avail us little for then the rest of the Easterns would
fight in a just cause.

So in the end it was agreed that the safe-conduct should be sent and
that Peroa should receive Idernes that very day at a great feast given
in his honour. Accordingly it was sent in the ancient form, the oaths
being taken before the messengers that neither he nor those with him
who must not number more than twenty men, would be harmed in Memphis and
that he would be guarded on the road back until he reached the outposts
of his own camp.

This done, I was despatched up the Nile bank in a chariot accompanied
only by Bes, to hurry on the march of those troops of which I have
spoken, so that they might reach Memphis by sundown. Before I went,
however, I had some words alone with Peroa. He told me that my immediate
marriage with the lady Amada would be announced at the feast that night.
Thereon I prayed him to deliver to Amada the rope of priceless rose-hued
pearls which was in his keeping, as my betrothal gift, with the prayer
that she would wear them at the feast for my sake. There was no time for
more.

The journey up Nile proved long for the road was bad being covered with