Samentu
did not even feel aversion toward them, he was only curious as to who
could have betrayed him. But even that point did not concern him
overmuch, for incomparably more important then seemed the question: Why
must he die, and why had he been brought into existence? For with death
present as a fact a whole life-time is shortened into one painful
minute even though that life were the longest of all and the richest in
experience.

"Why was he alive? For what purpose?"

He was sobered by the voice of one of the armed men,

"There is no one here, and cannot be."

They halted. Samentu felt that he loved those men, and his heart
thumped within him.

The second group of persons came up; among them there was a discussion,

"How can even thou, worthiness, suppose that some one has entered?"
asked a voice quivering with anger. "All the entrances are guarded,
especially now. And even if any one stole in it would be only to die
here of hunger."

"But, worthiness, see how this Lykon bears himself," answered another
voice. "The sleeping man looks all the time as if he felt an enemy near
him.."

"Lykon?" thought Samentu. "Ah, that Greek who is like the pharaoh. What
do I see? Mefres has brought him!"

At this moment the sleeping Greek rushed forward and stopped at the
column behind which Samentu was hidden. The armed men ran after him,
and the gleam of their torches threw light on the dark figure of
Samentu.

"Who is here?" cried, with a hoarse voice, the leader.

Samentu stood forth. The sight of him made such a powerful impression
that the torch-bearers withdrew. He might have passed out between them,
so terrified were they, and no one would have detained him; but the
priest thought no longer of rescue.

"Well, has my man with second sight been mistaken?" said Mefres,
pointing at his victim. "There is the traitor!"

Samentu approached him with a smile, and said,

"I recognize thee by that cry, Mefres. When Thou canst not be a cheat,
Thou art merely an idiot."

Those present were astounded. Samentu spoke with calm irony.

"Though it is true that at this moment Thou art both cheat and fool. A
cheat, for Thou art trying to persuade the overseers of the labyrinth
that this villain has the gift of second sight; and a fool, for Thou
thinkest that they believe thee. Better tell them that in the temple of
Ptah there are detailed plans of the labyrinth."

"That is a lie!" cried Mefres.

"Ask those men whom they