which was not quite closed.) "It is needful, Bes, that you
should repeat truly all that happened at the court of the King of kings
before and after I was brought from the boat."

Bes obeyed, telling the tale very well, so well that all listened
earnestly, without error moreover. When he had finished I also told my
story and how, shaken by all I had gone through and already weak from
the torment of the boat, the name of Amada was surprised from me who
never dreamed that the King would at once make demand of her, and who
would have perished a thousand times rather than such a thing should
happen. I added what I had learned afterwards from our escort, that this
name was already well known to the Great King who meant to make use of
it as a cause of quarrel with Egypt. Further, that he had let me escape
from a death by horrible torments because of some dream that he had
dreamed while he rested before the banquet, in which a god appeared and
told him that it was an evil thing to slay a man because that man had
bested him at a hunting match and one of which heaven would keep an
account. Still because of the law of his land he must find a public
pretext for loosing one whom he had once condemned, and therefore chose
this matter of the lady Amada whom he pretended to send me to bring to
him.

When I had finished, as Amada still remained silent, Pharaoh asked of
Bes how it came about that he told one story on the night of our return
and another on this night.

"Because, O Pharaoh," answered Bes rolling his eyes, "for the first time
in my life I have been just a little too clever and shot my arrow just
a little too far. Hearken, Pharaoh, and Royal Lady, and High Priest. I
knew that my master loves the lady Amada and knew also that she is quick
of tongue and temper, one who readily takes offence even if thereby
she breaks her own heart and so brings her life to ruin, and with it
perchance her country. Therefore, knowing women whom I have studied in
my own land, I saw in this matter just such a cause of offence as she
would lay hold of, and counselled my master to keep silent as to the
story of the naming of her before the King. Some evil spirit made him
listen to this bad counsel, so far at least, that when I lied as to
what had chanced, for which lie the lady Amada prayed that I might be
scourged till my bones broke through the skin, he did not at once tell
all the truth. Nor did he do so afterwards because he feared that if he