In front of him was a low altar, on which stood a shallow silver vessel filled with pure water, and on either side of it a burning lamp.
We knelt down before him, or rather I knelt, for Bes threw himself flat upon his face.
"Am I the King of kings whom you have so lately visited, that you should prostrate yourselves before me ?" said Tanofir in his great voice, which, coming from so frail and aged a man seemed most unnatural.

"Or is it to the goddess of Truth beyond that you bow yourselves?
If so, that is well, since one, if not both of you, greatly needs her pardon and her help.

Or is it to the sleeping god beyond who holds the whole world on his horns?
Or is it to the darkness of this hallowed place which causes you to remember the nearness of the awaiting tomb ?" "Nay, my Uncle," I said, "we would greet you, no more, who are so worthy of our veneration, seeing we believe, both of us, that you saved us yonder in the East, from that tomb of which you speak, or rather from the jaws of lions or a cruel death by torments." "Perchance I did, I or the gods of which I am the instrument.

At least I remember that I sent you certain messages in answer to a prayer for help that reached me, here in my darkness.

For know that since we parted I have gone quite blind so that I must use this maiden's eyes to read what is written in yonder divining-cup.