fallen, sat down by my mother in the chamber with a lamp between us,
and, holding her hand, told her something of my story, showing her the
sacks of gold that had come with me safely from the East, and the
chain of priceless, rose-hued pearls that I had won in a wager from
the Great King.

Now when she learned how Bes by his wit had saved me from a death of
torment in the boat, my mother clapped her hands to summon a servant
and sent for Bes, and said to him,

"Bes, hitherto I have looked on you as a slave taken by my son, the
noble Shabaka, in one of his far journeys that it pleases him to make
to fight and to hunt. But henceforth I look upon you as a friend and
give you a seat at my table. Moreover it comes into my mind that
although so strangely shaped by some evil god, perhaps you are more
than you seem to be."

Now Bes looked at me to see if I had told my mother anything, and when
I shook my head answered,

"I thank you, O Lady of the House, who have but done my duty to my
master. Still it is true that as a goatskin often holds good wine, so
a dwarf should not always be judged by what can be seen of him."

Then he went away.

"It seems that we are rich again, Son, who have been somewhat poor of
late years," said my mother, looking at the bags of gold. "Also, there
are the pearls which doubtless are worth more than the gold. What are
you going to do with them, Shabaka?"