"And didst Thou see the priest?"

"With thy permission, O watchfulness, that was not a priest, but some
spirit that guards the house of the erpatr may he live through
eternity!"

"Why a spirit?"

"For at moments I saw him and at moments he went somewhere."

"Perhaps he was behind the people?"

"Indeed the people sometimes were in front of him. But at one time he
was higher and at another time lower."

"Maybe he went up on the hill and came down from it?"

"He must have gone up and come down, but maybe he stretched and
shortened himself, for he was a great wonderworker. Barely had he said,
'The Nile will rise,' and that minute the Nile began to rise."

"And didst Thou throw stones, Anup?"

"How should I dare to throw stones into the garden of the erpatr? I am
a simple fellow, my hand would wither to the elbow for such sacrilege."

The prince gave command to stop the examination, and when they had led
away the accused, he asked the official,

"Are these of the most guilty?"

"Thou hast said it, lord," answered the official.

"In that case all must be liberated today. We should not imprison
people because they wished to convince themselves that the holy Nile
was rising or for listening to music."

"The highest wisdom is speaking through thy lips, erpatr," said the
official. "I was commanded to find the most guilty, hence I have
summoned those whom I have found so; but it is not in my power to
return them liberty."

"Why?"

"Look, most worthy, on that box. It is full of papyruses on which are
written the details of the case. A judge in Memphis receives a report
on the progress of the case daily, and reports to his holiness. What
would become of the labor of so many learned scribes and great men if
the accused were set free?"

"But they are innocent!" cried the prince.

"There was an attack, therefore an offence. Where there is an offence
there must be offenders. Whoever has fallen once into the hands of
power, and is described in acts, cannot get free without some result.
In an inn a man drinks and pays; at a fair he sells something and
receives; in a field he sows and harvests; at graves he receives
blessings from his deceased ancestors. How, then, could any one after
he has come to a court return with nothing, like a traveler stopping
half-way on his journey and turning back his steps homeward without
attaining his object?"

"Thou speakest wisely," answered the heir. "But tell me, has not his