llecting for herself a dowry. Do not wander in the
night through a strange city, for Thou wilt fall into the hands of the
police or of thieves, but make use of that which the gods give thee at
home. Dost Thou wish?"

"But will thy daughter go with me to Harran?" inquired Phut.

The innkeeper looked at him with astonishment. All at once he struck
his forehead, as if he had divined a secret, and seizing the traveler
by the hand, he drew him to a quieter place at the window.

"I know all," whispered he, excitedly. "Thou art dealing in women. But
remember that for taking away one Egyptian woman Thou mayst lose thy
property and go to the quarries. But perhaps Thou wilt take me into thy
company, for here I know every road."

"In that case show me the road to the priestess," said Phut. "Remember
that after sunset Thou art to have a guide for me, and to-morrow my
bags and casket, otherwise I shall complain to the court."

Then Phut left the gallery and went to his chamber on a higher story.

Asarhadon with anger approached a table at which Phoenician merchants
were drinking, and called aside one of them named Kush.

"Thou bringest beautiful guests to me!" said he, unable to restrain the
quivering of his voice. "That Phut eats almost nothing, and now, as if
to insult my house, he is going out to an Egyptian dancer instead of
giving presents to my women."

"What wonder in that?" answered Kush, smiling. "He could find a
Phoenician woman in Sidon, but here he prefers an Egyptian. A fool is
he who in Cyprus does not taste Cyprus wine, but Tyrian beer."

"But I say," broke in the host, "that that man is dangerous. He seems
to be a citizen, though he looks like a priest."

"Thou, Asarhadon, hast the look of a high priest, though Thou art only
an innkeeper. A bench does not cease to be a bench, though it has a
lion's skin on it."

"But why does he go to priestesses? I would swear that that is a
pretence, and that this churlish Hittite, instead of going to a feast
with women, is going to some meeting of conspirators."

"Anger and greed have darkened thy reason," answered Kush, with
impatience. "Thou art like a man who looking for melons on a fig-tree
sees not the figs on it. It is clear to any merchant that if Phut is to
collect five talents from a priest he must win favors from all who go
around in the sanctuaries. But Thou hast no understanding."

"My heart tells me that this must be an Assyrian ambassador watching to
d