poet, whose blood was roused by the subtle irony of his Superior's words.
"And if I had been as sure that she was the princess, as I am that you
are the man who once held me in honor, and who are now trying to
humiliate me, I would all the more have acted as I did to spare a lady
who is more like a goddess than a woman, and who, to save an unworthy
wretch like me, stooped from a throne to the dust."

"Still the poet--the preacher!" said Ameni. Then he added severely.
"I beg for a short and clear an swer. We know for certain that the
princess took part in the festival in the disguise of a woman of low
rank, for she again declared herself to Paaker; and we know that it was
she who saved you. But did you know that she meant to come across the
Nile?"

"How should I?" asked Pentaur.

"Well, did you believe that it was Bent-Anat whom you saw before you when
she ventured on to the scene of conflict?"

"I did believe it," replied Pentaur; he shuddered and cast down his eyes.

"Then it was most audacious to drive away the king's daughter as an
impostor."

"It was," said Pentaur. "But for my sake she had risked the honor of her
name, and that of her royal father, and I--I should not have risked my
life and freedom for--"

"We have heard enough," interrupted Ameni.