and proclaim us traitors to the world, but it would also be foolish
since Idernes was not the only general of the Easterns and if we cut
off him and his escort, it would avail us little for then the rest of
the Easterns would fight in a just cause.

So in the end it was agreed that the safe-conduct should be sent and
that Peroa should receive Idernes that very day at a great feast given
in his honour. Accordingly it was sent in the ancient form, the oaths
being taken before the messengers that neither he nor those with him
who must not number more than twenty men, would be harmed in Memphis
and that he would be guarded on the road back until he reached the
outposts of his own camp.

This done, I was despatched up the Nile bank in a chariot accompanied
only by Bes, to hurry on the march of those troops of which I have
spoken, so that they might reach Memphis by sundown. Before I went,
however, I had some words alone with Peroa. He told me that my
immediate marriage with the lady Amada would be announced at the feast
that night. Thereon I prayed him to deliver to Amada the rope of
priceless rose-hued pearls which was in his keeping, as my betrothal
gift, with the prayer that she would wear them at the feast for my
sake. There was no time for more.

The journey up Nile proved long for the road was bad being covered
with drifted sand in some places and deep in mud from the inundation
waters in others. At length I found the troops just starting forward
after their rest, and rejoiced to see that there were more of them
than I had thought. I told the case to their captains, who promised to
make a forced march and to be in Memphis two hours before midnight.