Some one had seen him! "A robber!" cried a woman's tones.

"A thief! On the roof!" Athribis leaped to his feet.

He caught the papyri.

Alas, alas! they were not rolled, now! The wind tossed the long streamers, and as Athribis in fearful haste snatched them, the breeze blew one scroll entirely free.

It, swept from the roof, and, descending into the court, hung in a long strip from one of the palms.
The dismayed Athribis cast the other papyri on the roof, and fled.
It was time.