"Now I pray that yonder Tyrant has not changed his mind and that these
do not come to take me back to the boat," I said in a low voice.

"Have no fear, Master," answered Bes, "seeing that you have touched
his sceptre and drunk from his cup which he gave to you. After these
things no harm can happen to you in any land he rules. Therefore be at
ease and deal with these fellows proudly."

A minute later two princes entered followed by slaves who bore many
things, among them those hide bags filled with gold that had been set
beneath me in the boat. The elder of them bowed, greeting me with the
title of "Lord," and I bowed back to him. Then he handed me certain
rolls tied up with silk and sealed, which he said I was to deliver as
the King had commanded to the King's Satrap in Egypt, and to the
Prince Peroa. Also he gave me other letters addressed to the King's
servants on the road and written on tablets of clay in a writing I
could not read, with all of which I touched my forehead in the Eastern
fashion.

After this he told me that by noon all would be ready for my journey
which I should make with the rank of the King's Envoy, duly
provisioned and escorted by his servants, with liberty to use the
royal horses from post to post. Then he ordered the slaves to bring in
the gifts which the King sent to me, and these were many, including
even suits of flexible armour that would turn any sword-thrust or
arrow.

I thanked him, saying that I would be ready to start by noon, and
asked whether the King wished to see me before I rode. He replied that