around. At his right was the box of Hiram and the
most noted of the Phoenicians; on his left the box of the Phoenician
priests and priestesses. In this Kama occupied one among the first
places, and attracted notice by her splendid dress and by her beauty.
She wore a transparent robe adorned with embroidery of various colors,
gold bracelets and anklets, and on her head a circlet with a lotus
flower composed most skillfully of jewels.

Kama came with her colleagues, saluted the prince with low obeisances,
and returned to the box on the left, where began an animated
conversation with a foreigner whose hair was somewhat gray and whose
presence was imposing. The hair and beard of this man and his
companions were plaited into small braids.

The prince had come almost directly from the chamber of his son, and
was gladsome. But he frowned when he saw the priestess speaking with a
stranger.

"Dost Thou not know, Tutmosis, who that big fellow is for whom the
priestess is so charming?" asked he.

"He is that famous pilgrim who has come from Babylon, the worthy
Sargon."

"But he is an old grandfather!"

"His years are surely more than thine and mine together; but he is a
stately person."

"Could such a barbarian be stately!" said the indignant viceroy. "I am
certain that he bears about the smell of tallow."

Both were silent: the prince from anger, Tutmosis from fear because he
had dared to praise a man whom Ramses hated.

Meanwhile spectacle followed spectacle on the arena. In turn appeared
acrobats, serpent-charmers, dancers, buffoons, and jesters, who called
forth shouts from the audience.

But Ramses was gloomy. In his soul sprang up, moment after moment,
passions which had been dormant, hatred for Assyrians and jealousy of
Kama.

"How can that woman," thought he, "fondle up to an old man who has a
complexion like tanned leather, wild black eyes, and the beard of a he-
goat?"

But once the prince turned a more attentive look on the arena.

A number of naked Chaldeans entered. The oldest fixed in the earth
three short spears, points upward; then, with motions of his hands, he
put the youngest man to sleep. After that others took the sleeping man
and placed him on the spears in such fashion that one of the spears
supported his head, another his loins, and the third his feet.

The man was as stiff as wood. Then the old man made motions above him
with his hands, and drew out the spear supporting his feet. After a