"And why not, Lady? Would you have had me sit still and hear those fat
trollops of the East exalted above you? Would you have had me so
disloyal to your royal loveliness?"

"You should be scourged," repeated Amada stamping her foot. "My Uncle,
I pray you cause this knave to be scourged."

"Nay, nay," said Peroa moodily. "Poor simple man, he knew no better
and thought only to sing your praises in a far land. Be not angry with
the dwarf, Niece. Had it been Shabaka who gave your name, the thing
would be different. What happened next, Bes?"

"Only this, Prince," said Bes, looking upwards and rolling his eyes,
as was his fashion when unloading some great lie from his heart. "The
King sent his servants to bring my master from the boat, that he might
inquire of him whether he had always found me truthful. For, Prince,
those Easterns set much store by truth which here in Egypt is
worshipped as a goddess. There they do not worship her because she
lives in the heart of every man, and some women."

Now all stared at Bes who continued to stare at the ceiling, and I
rose to say something, I know not what, when suddenly the doors opened
and through them appeared heralds, crying,

"Hearken, Peroa, Prince of Egypt by grace of the Great King. A message
from the Great King. Read and obey, O Peroa, Prince of Egypt by grace
of the Great King!"

As they cried thus from between them emerged a man whose long Eastern