Then I laid the roll before him on the table.
"I am honoured," he said in a pleased voice, "I am greatly honoured.
If I like it well, your story shall go to the tomb with me for my Ka to read and re-read until the day of resurrection, though first I will study it in the flesh.

Do you know this city of Tanis, Ana ?" I answered that I knew little of it, who had spent my time here haunting the doors of his Highness.
"Then with your leave I will be your guide through it this night, and afterwards we will sup and talk." I bowed and he clapped his hands, whereon a servant appeared, not Pambasa, but another.
"Bring two cloaks," said the Prince, "I go abroad with the scribe, Ana.
Let a guard of four Nubians, no more, follow us, but at a distance and disguised.

Let them wait at the private entrance." The man bowed and departed swiftly.
Almost immediately a black slave appeared with two long hooded cloaks, such as camel-drivers wear, which he helped us to put on.

Then, taking a lamp, he led us from the room through a doorway opposite to that by which I had entered, down passages and a narrow stair that ended in a courtyard.

Crossing this we came to a wall, great and thick, in which were double doors sheathed with copper that opened mysteriously at our approach.