The captain writhed like a worm at his lord’s feet, and at last stammered out, raising his hands imploringly towards the king:  “Have mercy, have mercy, my Lord the king!  I am a poor man, and have thirty children, fifteen of whom . . .”

“I wish to know if Croesus is living or dead.”

“He is alive!  He has done so much for me, and I did not think I was doing wrong in allowing him to live a few hours longer, that he might. . . .”

“That is enough,” said the king breathing freely.  “This once your disobedience shall go unpunished, and the treasurer may give you two talents, as you have so many children.—­Now go to the prisoners,—­tell Croesus to come hither, and the others to be of good courage, if they are innocent.”

“My King is the light of the world, and an ocean of mercy.”

“Bartja and his friends need not remain any longer in confinement; they can walk in the court of the palace, and you will keep guard over them.  You, Datis, go at once to the hanging-gardens and order Boges to defer the execution of the sentence on the Egyptian Princess; and further, I wish messengers sent to the post-station mentioned by the Athenian, and the wounded man brought hither under safe escort.”

The “king’s eye” was on the point of departure, but Phanes detained him, saying:  “Does my King allow me to make one remark?”

“Speak.”

“It appears to me, that the chief of the eunuchs could give the most accurate information.  During his delirium the youth often mentioned his name in connection with that of the girl he seemed to be in love with.”

“Go at once, Datis, and bring him quickly.”

“The high-priest Oropastes, Gaumata’s brother, ought to appear too; and Mandane, whom I have just been assured on the most positive authority, is the principal attendant of the Egyptian Princess.”

“Fetch her, Datis.”

“If Nitetis herself could . . .”

At this the king turned pale and a cold shiver ran through his limbs.  How he longed to see his darling again!  But the strong man was afraid of this woman’s reproachful looks; he knew the captivating power that lay in her eyes.  So he pointed to the door, saying “Fetch Boges and Mandane; the Egyptian Princess is to remain in the hanging-gardens, under strict custody.”

The Athenian bowed deferentially; as if he would say:  “Here no one has a right to command but the king.”

Cambyses looked well pleased, seated himself again on the purple divan, and resting his forehead on his hand, bent his eyes on the ground and sank into deep thought.  The picture of the woman he loved so dearly refused to be banished; it came again and again, more and more vividly, and the thought that these features could not have deceived him—­that Nitetis must be innocent—­took a firmer root in his mind; he had already begun to hope.  If Bartja could be cleared, there was no error that might not be conceivable; in that case he would go to the hanging-gardens, take her hand and listen to her defence.  When love has once taken firm hold of a man in riper years, it runs and winds through his whole nature like one of his veins, and can only be destroyed with his life.