sealed with the Signet of signets, which I think was stolen by yonder
Shabaka. Now hearken; until this matter is made clear I will obey
those commands thus far. I will return with my army to Sais and there
wait until I have received the orders of the Great King, after report
made to him. If so much as an arrow is shot at us on our march, it
will be open rebellion, as the price of which Egypt shall be crushed
as she was never crushed before, and every one of you here present
shall lose his head, save only the lady Amada who is the property of
the Great King. Now I thank you for your hospitality and demand that
you escort me and those with me back to my camp, since it seems that
here we are in the midst of enemies."

"Before you go, Idernes," I shouted, "know that you and your lying
captain shall pay with your lives for your slander on me."

"Many will pay with their lives for this night's work, O thief of
pearls and seals," answered the Satrap, and turning, left the hall
with his company.

Now I searched for Amada, but she also had gone with the ladies of
Peroa's household who feared lest the feast should end in blows and
bloodshed, also lest she should be snatched away. Indeed of all the
women in the hall, only my mother remained.

"Search out the lady Amada," I said to her, "and tell her the truth."

"Yes, my son," she answered thoughtfully; "but what is the truth? I
understood it was Bes who first gave the name of the lady Amada to the
Great King. Now we learn from your own lips that it was you. Wise
would you have been, my son, if you had bitten out your tongue before