d at him with reproachful displeasure.

While the leech broke the seals of the tablets, which the abbess had
carefully closed, and began to read the contents, Horapollo asked the
gardener: "And the nuns? Did they all escape?"

"Yes, Master! on the morning after we reached Doomiat, a trireme took
them all out to sea."

And the old man grumbled to himself: "The working bees killed and the
Drones saved!"

Gibbus, however, contradicted him, praising the laborious and useful
life of the sisters, in whose care he himself had once been.

Meanwhile Philippus had read his friend's last letter. Greatly disturbed
by it he turned hither and thither, paced the room with long steps, and
finally paused in front of the gardener, exclaiming: "And what next? Who
is to tell them the news?"

"You," replied Gibbus, raising his hands in entreaty.

"I-oh, of course, I!" growled the physician. "Whatever is difficult,
painful, intolerable, falls on my shoulders as a matter of course! But
I cannot--ought not--I will not do it. Had I any part or lot in devising
this mad expedition? You observe, Father?--What he, the simpleton,
brewed, I--I again am to drink. Fate has settled that!"

"It is hard, it is hard, child!" replied the old man. "Still, it is your
duty. Only consider--if that man, as he stands before us now, were to
appear before the women...."

But Philippus broke in: "No, no, that would not do! And you,
Gibbus--this very day there has been an Arab again to see Joanna; and
if they were to suspect that you had been with your master--for you look
strangely.--No, man; your devotion merits a better reward. They shall
not catch you. I release you from your service to the widow, and
we--what do you say, Father?--we will keep him here."

"Right, very right," said Horapollo. "The Nile must some day rise
again. Stay with us; I have long had a fancy to eat vegetables of my own
growing."

But Gibbus firmly declined the offer, saying he wished to return to his
old mistress. When the physician again pointed out to him how great a
danger he was running into, and the old man desired to know his reasons,
the hunch-back exclaimed:

"I promised my master to stay with the women; and now, while in all
the household I am the only free man, shall I leave them unprotected
to secure my own miserable life? Sooner would I see a scimitar at my
throat. When my head is off the rascals are welcome to all that is
left."

The words came hollow and broke