remains upon your wrist."

So the butler and those with him prostrated themselves before Peroa
and bowed humbly to me and even to Bes because in their hearts now
they believed that we were clothed by the Great King with terrible
powers that might destroy them all, if so we chose. Then they went,
the butler limping a little and with no pride left in him.

"That was good work," said Peroa to me afterwards when we were alone,
"for now yonder knave is frightened and will frighten his master."

"Yes," I answered, "you played that pipe well, Prince. Still, there is
no time to lose, since before another moon this will all be reported
in the East, whence a new light may arise and perchance a new signet."

"You say you stole the White Seal?" he asked.

"Nay, Prince, the truth is that Bes bought it--in a certain fashion--
and I used it. Perhaps it is well that you should know no more at
present."

"Perhaps," he answered, and we parted, for he had much to do.

That afternoon the Council met again. At it I gave over the gold and
by help of it all was arranged. Within a week ten thousand armed men
would be in Memphis and a hundred ships with their crews upon the
Nile; also a great army would be gathering in Upper Egypt, officered
for the most part by Greeks skilled in war. The Greek cities too at
the mouths of the Nile would be ready to revolt, or so some of their
citizens declared, for they hated the Great King bitterly and longed