The elder of them bowed, greeting me with the title of "Lord," and I bowed back to him.

Then he handed me certain rolls tied up with silk and sealed, which he said I was to deliver as the King had commanded to the King's Satrap in Egypt, and to the Prince Peroa.

Also he gave me other letters addressed to the King's servants on the road and written on tablets of clay in a writing I could not read, with all of which I touched my forehead in the Eastern fashion.
After this he told me that by noon all would be ready for my journey which I should make with the rank of the King's Envoy, duly provisioned and escorted by his servants, with liberty to use the royal horses from post to post.

Then he ordered the slaves to bring in the gifts which the King sent to me, and these were many, including even suits of flexible armour that would turn any sword-thrust or arrow.
I thanked him, saying that I would be ready to start by noon, and asked whether the King wished to see me before I rode.

He replied that he had so wished, but that as he was suffering in his head from the effects of the sun, he could not.