Hearken, O Shabaka, to-morrow you start back to Egypt, bearing letters from me to my vassal Peroa, and to my Satrap Idernes, bidding Peroa to hand over this lady Amada to Idernes and bidding Idernes to send her to the East with all honour and without delay, that she may enter my household as one of my wives." Now I was filled with rage and horror, and about to refuse this mission when Bes broke in swiftly, "Will the King of kings be pleased to give command as to my master's safe and honourable escort to Egypt ?" "It is commanded with all things necessary for Shabaka the Egyptian and the dwarf his servant, with the gold and gems and slaves he won from me in a wager, and everything else that is his.

Let it be recorded." Scribes sprang forward and wrote the King's words down, while like one in a dream I thought to myself that they could not now be altered.

The King watched them sleepily for a while, then seemed to wake up and grow clear-minded again.

At least he said to me, "Fortune has shown you smiles and frowns to-day, Egyptian, and the smiles last.

Yet remember that she has teeth behind her lips wherewith to tear out the throat of the faithless.