to those striped gate-keepers of mine for meddling in here without
an invitation?" He looked at me sharp enough, but saw plainly that
I was a stranger. "But perhaps you carry a name, my man, which
warrants your impertinence?"

"Deucalion is my poor name," I said, "but I cannot expect you
will know it. I am but newly landed here, sir, and when I left
Atlantis some score of years back, a very different man to you held
guard over these gates." He had his forehead on my feet by this
time. "I had it from the Empress this night that she will
to-morrow make a new sorting of this kingdom's dignities. Perhaps
there is some recommendation you would wish me to lay before her in
return for your courtesies?"

"My lord," said the man, "if you wish it, I can have a turn
with those cave-tigers myself now, and you can look on from behind
the walls and see them tear me."

"Why tell me what is no news?"

"I wish to remind my lord of his power; I wish to beg of his
clemency."

"You showed your power to these poor prisoners; but from what
remains here to be seen, few of them have tasted much of your
clemency."

"The orders were," said the captain of the gate, as though he
thought a word might be said here for his defence, "the orders
were, my lord, that the tigers should be kept fierce and accustomed