lor Lik-Bagus, asks thee, 'Sargon, what
Phoenicians didst Thou see, and of what was thy discourse with them at
night, outside their temple '?"

Sargon sighed, if sounds like the growling of a lion are to be called
sighs.

That moment one of the Assyrian officers rushed in. He knelt down,
struck the pavement with his forehead, and said to Sargon,

"Light of our lord's eyes! There is a crowd of magnates and dignitaries
of Egypt before the entrance, and at the head of them the heir himself,
with the evident intention of giving thee homage."

But before Sargon could utter a command, the prince was in the door of
the chamber. He pushed the gigantic watch aside, and approached the
felts quickly, while the confused ambassador, with widely opened eyes,
knew not what to do, to flee naked to another chamber, or hide beneath
the covers.

On the threshold stood a number of Assyrian officers, astonished at the
invasion of the heir in opposition to every etiquette. But Istubar made
a sign to them, and they vanished.

The prince was alone; he had left his suite in the courtyard.

"Be greeted, O ambassador of a great king, and guest of the pharaoh. I
have come to visit thee and inquire if Thou hast need of anything, also
to learn if time and desire will permit thee to ride in my company on a
horse from my father's stables, surrounded by our suites in a manner
becoming an ambassador of the mighty Assar, may he live through
eternity!"

Sargon listened as he lay there, without understanding a syllable. But
when Istubar interpreted the words of the Egyptian viceroy, the
ambassador felt such delight that he beat his head against the couch,
repeating the names Ramses and Assar.

When he had calmed himself, and made excuses for the wretched state in
which so worthy and famous a guest had found him, he added,

"Do not take it ill, O lord, that an earthworm and a support of the
throne, as I am, show delight in a manner so unusual. But I am doubly
pleased at thy coming; first, because such a super-terrestrial honor
has come to me; second, because in my dull and worthless heart I
thought that thou, O lord, wert the author of my misfortune. It seemed
to me that among the sticks which fell on my shoulders I felt thine,
which struck, indeed, vigorously."

The calm Istubar interpreted phrase after phrase to the prince. To this
the heir, with genuine kingly dignity, answered,

"Thou wert mistaken, O Sargon. If Thou thyself hadst not con