My flower..." The enthusiastic gardener would have said much more in praise of his flower, but Boges left him with a friendly nod, and went down the flight of steps.

A two-wheeled wooden carriage was waiting for him there; he took his seat by the driver, the horses, decked out with bells and tassels, were urged into a sharp trot and quickly brought him to the gate of the harem-garden.
That day was a busy, stirring one in Cambyses' harem.

In order that the women might look their very best, Boges had commanded that they should all be taken to the bath before the banquet.

He therefore went at once to that wing of the palace, which contained the baths for the women.
While he was still at some distance a confused noise of screaming, laughing, chattering and tittering reached his ears.

In the broad porch of the large bathing-room, which had been almost overheated, more than three hundred women were moving about in a dense cloud of steam.
[We read in Diodorus XVII.77.that the king of Persia had as many wives as there are days in the year.