n Orion had recrossed the bridge on his way home, he saw a
gaily-dressed Nile-boat, such as now but rarely stopped at Memphis,
lying at anchor in the dock, and on the road he met two litters followed
by beasts of burden and a train of servants. The whole party had a
brilliant and wealthy appearance, and at any other time would have
roused his curiosity; but to-day he merely wondered for a moment who
these new-comers might be, and then continued to meditate on the task
proposed to him by Amru. From the bottom of his heart he cursed the hour
in which he had pledged himself to take the part of these strangers;
for after such long idleness he longed to be able to prove his powers.
Suddenly, and as if by a miracle, he saw the way opened before him which
he had himself hoped to tread, and now he was fettered and held back
from an enterprise which he felt he could carry out with success
and benefit to his country, while it attracted him as with a hundred
lode-stones.

Next morning, when his will had been duly signed and witnessed, he
called the treasurer for an interview alone with him. He had made up his
mind that one person, at least, must be informed of the enterprise he
had planned, and that one could be no other than Nilus. So he begged him
to accompany him to the impluvium of his private residence; and several
office scribes who were present heard the invitation given. They did
not, however, allow themselves to be disturbed in their work; the
youngest only--a handsome lad of sixteen, an olive-complexioned
Egyptian, with keen, eager black eyes, who had listened sharply to
every word spoken by the treasurer and his master, quietly rose from his
squatting posture as soon as they had quitted the office, and, stole,
unobserved into the anteroom. From thence he flew up the ladder-like
steps which led to the dovecote of which he had the care, sprang on
to the roof of the lower story, and crept flat on his face till he was
close to the edge of the large square opening which gave light and air
to the impluvium below. With a swift movement of the hand he pushed
back the awning which shaded it at midday, and listened intently to the
dialogue that went on below.

This listener was Anubis, the water-wagtail's foster-brother; and
he seemed to be in no way behind his beloved mistress in the art of
listening; for no one could prick up his ears more sharply than Anubis.
He knew, too, what was to be his reward for exposing himself on a r