“A fresh witness?  Verily, I would gladly give half my kingdom, to be convinced of the innocence of men so nearly related to me.”

“Victory to my lord, the eye of the realm!  A Greek is waiting outside, who seems, to judge by his figure and bearing, one of the noblest of his race.”

The king laughed bitterly:  “A Greek!  Ah, ha! perhaps some relation to Bartja’s faithful fair one!  What can this stranger know of my family affairs?  I know these beggarly Ionians well.  They are impudent enough to meddle in everything, and think they can cheat us with their sly tricks.  How much have you had to pay for this new witness, uncle?  A Greek is as ready with a lie as a Magian with his spells, and I know they’ll do anything for gold.  I’m really curious to see your witness.  Call him in.  But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance.”  And the king’s eyes flashed with anger as he said these words.  Hystaspes, however, sent for the Greek.

Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king.  The Greek’s bearing, as he approached, under the king’s penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.

His agreeable and handsome appearance, and the calm and modest manner in which he bore the king’s gaze, seemed to make a favorable impression on the latter; he did not allow him to remain long on the earth, and asked him in a by no means unfriendly tone:  “Who are you?”

“I am a Greek nobleman.  My name is Phanes, and Athens is my home.  I have served ten years as commander of the Greek mercenaries in Egypt, and not ingloriously.”

“Are you the man, to whose clever generalship the Egyptians were indebted for their victories in Cyprus?”

“I am.”

“What has brought you to Persia?”

“The glory of your name, Cambyses, and the wish to devote my arms and experience to your service.”

“Nothing else?  Be sincere, and remember that one single lie may cost your life.  We Persians have different ideas of truth from the Greeks.”

“Lying is hateful to me too, if only, because, as a distortion and corruption of what is noblest, it seems unsightly in my eyes.”

“Then speak.”

“There was certainly a third reason for my coming hither, which I should like to tell you later.  It has reference to matters of the greatest importance, which it will require a longer time to discuss; but to-day—­”

“Just to-day I should like to hear something new.  Accompany me to the chase.  You come exactly at the right time, for I never had more need of diversion than now.”

“I will accompany you with pleasure, if. . .”

“No conditions to the king!  Have you had much practice in hunting?”