“Set the prisoners free, my king.  I will answer for it with my own head, that Bartja was not in the hanging gardens.”

The king was surprised at this speech, but not angry.  Phanes then advised him to send for Oropastes and Mandane, whose examination elicited the full truth.  Boges, who was also sent for, had disappeared.  Cambyses had all the prisoners set free, gave Phanes his hand to kiss—­a rare honour—­and, greater honour still, invited him to eat at the king’s table.  Then he went to the rooms of his mother, who had sent for him.

Nitetis had been carried insensible to the queen-mother’s apartments.  When she opened her eyes, her head was resting on the blind queen’s lap, she felt Atossa’s warm kisses on her forehead, and Cambyses was standing by her side.  She gazed around, and smiled as she recognised them one by one.  She raised herself with difficulty.  “How could you believe such a thing of me, my king?” she asked.  There was no reproach in her tone, but deep sadness; Cambyses replied, “Forgive me.”

Nitetis then gave them the letter she had received from her mother, which would explain all, and begged them not to scorn her poor sister.  “When an Egyptian girl once loves, she cannot forget.  But I feel so frightened.  The end must be near.  That horrible man, Boges, read me the fearful sentence, and it was that which forced the poison into my hand.”

The physician rushed forward.  “I thought so!  She has taken a poison which results in certain death.  She is lost!”

On hearing this, the king exclaimed in anguish, “She shall live; it is my will!  Summon all the physicians in Babylon.  Assemble the priests.  She is not to die!  She must live!  I am the king, and I command it!”

Nitetis opened her eyes as if endeavouring to obey her lord.  She looked upon her lover, who was pressing his burning lips to her right hand.  She murmured, with a smile, “Oh, this great happiness!” Then she closed her eyes and was seized with fever.

* * * * *

All efforts to save Nitetis’ life were fruitless.  Cambyses fell into the deepest gloom, and wanted action, war, to dispel his sad thoughts.  Phanes gave him the pretext.  As commander of the Greek mercenaries in Egypt, he had enjoyed Amasis’ confidence.  He alone, with the high-priest, shared Amasis’ secret about the birth of Nitetus, who was not the daughter of Amasis, but of Hophra, his predecessor, whose throne Amasis had usurped.  When, owing to the intrigues of Psamtik, Amasis’ son, Phanes fell into disgrace and had to fly for his life, his little son was seized and cruelly murdered by his persecutors.  Phanes had sworn revenge.  He now persuaded Cambyses to wage war upon Egypt, and to claim Amasis’ throne as the husband of Hophra’s daughter.