Now for the first time I noted that Myra had
risen.
Send for others instantly, said the
king.
Those for the king and those against him began to
fight and die. To him who can read it I will give a great reward, aye, andset him up
as a ruler in Babylon.
To-day, another letterwas forged and given to you
to serve as bait to draw the jackal fromhis hole.
Naught else could be wrung from him by any
tormentthat is known. Then suddenlythe prophet appeared among us.
A woman glided up to us and peered into my face.
There she lay, her fair face crushed, her splendid robes red withblood.
Now I would pay back mygrandsires death upon their
accursed race.
Nay, O King, his name is Ramose, she exclaimed
astonished.
Still ought we not to seek help and break down the
door which we haveno tools to do? Then when all seemed lost the God we worshipped
spoke a word in heavenand saved us. Send for others instantly, said the king. He
climbed the dais and stoodbefore the king, making no obeisance. Yetbefore I die I
would say to you what you know already, that all thistale is false.
As he went down his long dark cloakfell from him.
She looked up and we saw that it wasMetep!
She came to theking whose body shook and whose face
was ashen with fear.
Still ought we not to seek help and break down the
door which we haveno tools to do? They stared astonished and terrified; in
uttersilence they sat still and stared.
Now for the first time I noted that Myra had
risen.
His fat face paled, his cheeks fell in,his whole
frame seemed to shrink. Such will be your fate also, if you fall living into
thehands of yonder men. Well, soon we shall hear another story from
you.
So be it, for we have done our best, but be careful
of that trinket,said the first voice.
She peered down the little passage to learnwhether
it were empty, and I glanced back at the hall. Indeed with his last words he denied
all the little hehad uttered. The veils fell and were snatched away and next moment
I too nearlyfell down. Tall, thin, solemn-faced, black-robed,white-haired, he was
led through the feasters to the dais.
Then over againstme, at the far end of the hall,
the shadow reappeared and thickened. So he began to mock again and talk of the
manner in which weshould perish. To-day, another letterwas forged and given to you
to serve as bait to draw the jackal fromhis hole. So he began to mock again and talk
of the manner in which weshould perish.
He took me by the hand, he led me away,and I
remember no more till I found myself in this place.
Fly to the roof, I answered, and take your poison
with you, Wife,to swallow if there be need.