If the seal is produced to him, he compares it with the impress and should the two agree, he obeys the order that is brought as though the King had given it in person.

When we reached the Court doubtless Houman would have returned the seal, but seeing that the King was, or feigned to be drunk, waited for fear lest it should be lost, and with it his life.

Then he was seized as you saw, and in his terror forgot all about the seal, as did the King and his officers." "But, surely, Bes, those who took Houman to the boat would have removed it." "Master, even the most clear-sighted do not see well at night.

At any rate my hope was that they had not done so, and that is why I waded out to prick the eyes of Houman.

Moreover, as I had hoped, so it was; there beneath his robe I saw the chain.