grave. He was clad in gorgeous silks and wore a cap upon his head in
which shone a jewel, but beneath his robes I caught the glint of mail.

As he came into the hall and noted the number and quality of the
guests and the stir and the expectant look upon their faces, he
started as though he were afraid, but recovering himself, murmured
some courteous words to his host and advanced towards the seat of
honour which was pointed out to him upon the Prince's right. After
these two followed the wife of Peroa with her son and daughters. Then,
walking alone in token of her high rank, appeared Amada, the Royal
Lady of Egypt, wonderfully arrayed. Now, however, she wore no emblems
of royalty, either because it was not thought wise that these should
be shown in the presence of the Satrap, or because she was about to be
given in marriage to one who was not royal. Indeed, as I noted with
joy, her only ornament was the rope of rose-hued pearls which were
arranged in a double row upon her breast.

She searched me out with her eyes, smiled, touching the pearls with
her finger, and passed on to her place next to the daughters of Peroa,
at one end of the head table which was shaped like a horse's hoof.

After her came the nobles who had accompanied Idernes, grave Eastern
men. One of these, a tall captain with eyes like a hawk, seemed
familiar to me. Nor was I mistaken, for Bes, who stood behind me and
whose business it would be to wait on me at the feast, whispered in my
ear,

"Note that man. He was present when you were brought before the Great
King from the boat and saw and heard all that passed."