Not daring to linger longer, Athribis ran out of the house, and hastened homeward, full of apprehension as to what might await him.
"Where are the lentiles ?" asked the slave by the threshold, as Athribis, forgetful, in his excitement, of the excuse he had made for his departure, passed swiftly and softly in.
"I found none," quickly answered Athribis, with alarm.
He sped silently to his former place of work, and fell to polishing the pavement with a zeal unknown before.

He knew well enough that the slave by the threshold would not believe in that excuse, lentiles being plentiful enough.

Terror had robbed Athribis' deceitful tongue of its usual cunning, and now he silently bewailed his startled answer.

If the slave by the threshold should report to Heraklas' mother the fact that Athribis had been away! Athribis longed to have time to unroll the scrolls which he had hidden in his garment, but he dared not look at them till he should be alone.
A voice sounded in the court.

Athribis redoubled his zeal: He recognized the tones of Heraklas' mother.
"I was not long gone! I was not long gone!" the guilty Athribis hastily assured himself.