gs. Where is
this Signet?"

"Here," said the Prince, opening his robe. "Look on it, Satrap, and let
your lords look, but let none of you dare to touch it."

Idernes looked long and earnestly, and so did some of his people,
especially the lord with the hawk eyes. Then they stared at each other
bewildered and whispered together.

"It seems to be the very Seal--the White Seal itself!" exclaimed Idernes
at length. "Tell me now, Peroa. How came this sacred thing that dwells
in the East hither into Egypt?"

"The lord Shabaka brought it to me with certain letters from the Great
King, O Satrap."

"Shabaka for the third time, by the holy Fire!" cried Idernes. "He
brought the cup; he brought the famous pearls; he brought the gold, and
he brought the Signet of signets. What is there then that he did not
bring? Perchance he has the person of the King of kings himself in his
keeping!"

"Not that, O Satrap, only the commands of the King of kings which
are prepared ready to deliver to you under the White Seal that you
acknowledge."

"And what may they be, Egyptian?"

"This, O Satrap: That you and all the army which you have brought with
you retire to Sais and thence out of Egypt as quickly as you may, or pay
for disobedience with your lives."

Now Idernes and his captains gasped.

"Why this is rebellion!" he said.

"No, O Satrap, only the command of the Great King given under the White
Seal," and drawing a roll from his breast, Peroa laid it on his brow and
cast it down before Idernes, adding,

"Obey the writing and the Signet, or by virtue of my commission, as soon
as you are returned to your army and your safe-conduct is expired, I
fall upon you and destroy you."

Idernes looked about him like a wolf in a trap, then asked,

"Do you mean to murder me here?"

"Not so," answered Peroa, "for you have our safe-conduct and Egyptians
are honourable men. But you are dismissed your office and ordered to
leave Egypt."

Idernes thought a little while, then said,

"If I leave Egypt, there is at least one whom I am commanded to take
with me under orders and writings that you will not dispute, a maiden
named Amada whom the Great King would number among his women. I am told
it is she who sits yonder--a jewel indeed, fair as the pearls upon her
breast which thus will return into the King's keeping. Let her be handed
over, for she rides with me at once."

Now in the midst of an intense silence Peroa answered,

"Amada, the