"He is dead but she is the niece of the Prince Peroa, and by birth the
Royal Lady of Egypt, O King."

"Good, then she is well born also. Hearken, O Shabaka, to-morrow you
start back to Egypt, bearing letters from me to my vassal Peroa, and
to my Satrap Idernes, bidding Peroa to hand over this lady Amada to
Idernes and bidding Idernes to send her to the East with all honour
and without delay, that she may enter my household as one of my
wives."

Now I was filled with rage and horror, and about to refuse this
mission when Bes broke in swiftly,

"Will the King of kings be pleased to give command as to my master's
safe and honourable escort to Egypt?"

"It is commanded with all things necessary for Shabaka the Egyptian
and the dwarf his servant, with the gold and gems and slaves he won
from me in a wager, and everything else that is his. Let it be
recorded."

Scribes sprang forward and wrote the King's words down, while like one
in a dream I thought to myself that they could not now be altered. The
King watched them sleepily for a while, then seemed to wake up and
grow clear-minded again. At least he said to me,

"Fortune has shown you smiles and frowns to-day, Egyptian, and the
smiles last. Yet remember that she has teeth behind her lips wherewith
to tear out the throat of the faithless. Man, if you play me false or
fail in your mission, be sure that you shall die and in such a fashion