k his head.

"Dost doubt?" asked the prince.

"Yes, lord. In Pi-Bast dwell many pious Asiatics who think the
priestess worthy of death because she deserted the altar. If this Greek
has bound himself to kill Kama, they will help him, they will conceal
the man, and facilitate flight for him."

"What is thy answer to this?" asked the heir of Hiram.

"The worthy master of the palace speaks wisely," replied the old
Phoenician.

"But ye have freed Kama from the curse."

"I guarantee that Phoenicians will not touch Kama, and will pursue the
Greek. But what is to be done with the other adherents of Astaroth?"

"I make bold to think," said the chief, "that nothing threatens this
woman at present. If she had courage, we might employ her to decoy the
Greek, and seize him here in thy palaces, O Erpatr."

"Then go to her," said the prince, "and lay before her whatever plan
Thou mayst think out. And if Thou seize the man, I will give thee ten
talents."

When the heir left them, Hiram said to the chief,

"Dignitary, I am aware that Thou knowest both kinds of writing, and
that the wisdom of priests is not strange to thee. When Thou hast the
wish, Thou art able to hear through walls and see things in darkness.
For this reason Thou knowest the thoughts of the man who works with a
bucket, the laborer, the artisan who takes sandals to market, the great
lord who in the escort of his servants feels as safe as a child on the
bosom of its mother."

"Thou speakest truth," replied the official. "The gods have given me a
wonderful gift of clear insight."

"That is it; thanks to thy gifts, Thou hast guessed beyond doubt that
the temple of Astaroth will appoint to thee twenty talents if Thou
seize that wretch who dares assume the appearance of the prince, our
viceroy. Besides, in every case, the temple offers thee ten talents if
news of the likeness of the wretched Lykon to the heir is not reported
throughout Egypt; for it is offensive and improper that an ordinary
mortal should recall by his features a personage descended from
divinity."

"Therefore let not that which Thou hearest of the wretched Lykon go
beyond our own hearts, nor any word touching our chase after that
godless outcast."

"I understand," replied the official. "It may even happen that such a
criminal may lose his life before we can give him to the court."

"Thou hast said it," replied Hiram, pressing his hand; "and every help
asked by thee of Phoenicians will be