n began to scratch his shoulder-blades.

"Man of a distant region," continued he, in a lower voice, "ye Hittites
and we Phoenicians are brothers, hence I advise thee sincerely not to
turn to an Egyptian court, for it has only one door, that by which a
man enters, but none by which he goes out."

"The gods can conduct an innocent man through a wall," said the
Hittite.

"Innocent! Who of us in the land of bondage is innocent?" whispered the
host. "Look in that direction; over there that commander of ten
policemen is finishing a goose, an excellent young goose, which I
myself would have eaten gladly. But dost Thou know why, taking it from
my own mouth, I gave that goose to him?"

"It was because the man came to inquire about thee."

When he said this, the Phoenician looked askance at the traveler, who
did not lose calmness for an instant.

"He asked me," continued the host, "that master of ten policemen asked,
'What sort of man is that black one who sits two hours over a handful
of dates?' I replied: 'A very honorable man, the lord Phut.' 'Whence
comes he?' 'From the country of the Hittites, from the city of Harran;
he has a good house there of three stories, and much land.' 'Why has he
come hither?' 'He has come,' I replied, 'to receive five talents from a
certain priest, talents lent by his father.'

"And dost Thou know, worthy lord," continued the innkeeper, "what that
decurion answered? 'Asarhadon,' said he, 'I know that Thou art a
faithful servant of his holiness, Thou hast good food and pure wines;
for this reason I warn thee, look to thyself. Have a care of foreigners
who make no acquaintances, who avoid wine and every amusement, and are
silent. That Phut of Harran may be an Assyrian spy.' The heart died in
the when I heard this. But these words do not affect thee," said he,
indignantly, when he saw that the terrible suspicion of espionage did
not disturb the calm face of the Hittite.

"Asarhadon," said the guest, after a while, "I confided to thee myself
and my property. See to it, therefore, that my bags and my casket are
returned to me, for in the opposite case I shall complain of thee to
that same chief of tea who is eating the goose which was intended for
thee."

"Well, but permit me to pay the thieves only fifteen per cent of the
value of the things," cried the host.

"Thou hast no right to pay."

"Give them even thirty drachmas."

"Not an uten."

"Give the poor fellows even ten drachmas."