kill you for the lie."

"I lie, do I?" sneered Idernes. "Speak then, you who were present, and
tell this noble company whether I lie," and he pointed to the hawk-
eyed lord.

"He does not lie," said the Captain. "I was in the Court of the Great
King and heard yonder Shabaka purchase pardon by promising to hand
over his cousin, the lady Amada, to the King. The pearls were
entrusted to him as a gift to her and I see she wears them. The gold
also of which mention has been made was to provide for her journey in
state to the East, or so I heard. The cup was his guerdon, also a sum
for his own purse."

"It is false," I shouted. "The name of Amada slipped my lips by chance
--no more."

"So it slipped your lips by chance, did it?" sneered Idernes. "Now, if
you are wise, you will suffer the lady Amada to slip your hand, and
not by chance. But let us have done with this cunning knave. Prince,
will you hand over yonder fair woman, or will you not?"

"Satrap, I will not," answered Peroa. "The demand is an insult put
forward to force us to rebellion, since there is no man in Egypt who
will not be ready to die in defence of the Royal Lady of Egypt."

This statement was received with a shout of applause by every Egyptian
in the hall. Idernes waited until it had died away, then said,

"Prince Peroa and Egyptians, you have conveyed to me certain commands