and agreements are entered into then for which more than one gold piece must be paid later; but for a few roses and good words they are not accustomed to be so liberal as you have been.  The girls have been boasting about you and your gifts, and showing your good red gold to their stingier suitors.  As rumor is a goddess who is very apt to exaggerate and to make a crocodile out of a lizard, it happened that news reached the Egyptian captain on guard at the market, that some newly-arrived Lydian warriors had been scattering gold broadcast among the flower-girls.  This excited suspicion, and induced the Toparch to send an officer here to enquire from whence you come, and what is the object of your journey hither.  I was obliged to use a little stratagem to impose upon him, and told him, as I believe you wish, that you were rich young men from Sardis, who had fled on account of having incurred the satrap’s ill-will.  But I see the government officer coming, and with him the secretary who is to make out passports which will enable you to remain on the Nile unmolested.  I have promised him a handsome reward, if he can help you in getting admitted into the king’s mercenaries.  He was caught and believed my story.  You are so young, that nobody would imagine you were entrusted with a secret mission.”

The talkative Greek had scarcely finished speaking when the clerk, a lean, dry-looking man, dressed in white, came in, placed himself opposite the strangers and asked them from whence they came and what was the object of their journey.

The youths held to their first assertion, that they were Lydian Hekatontarchs, and begged the functionary to provide them with passes and tell them in what way they might most easily obtain admittance into the king’s troop of auxiliaries.

The man did not hesitate long, after Theopompus had undertaken to be their surety, and the desired documents were made out.

Bartja’s pass ran thus: 

“Smerdis, the son of Sandon of Sardis, about 22 years of age—­figure, tall and slender-face, well-formed:—­nose, straight:—­forehead, high with a small scar in the middle:—­is hereby permitted to remain in those parts of Egypt in which the law allows foreigners to reside, as surety has been given for him. 
             “In the King’s name. 
                    “Sachons, Clerk.”

Darius and Zopyrus received passports similarly worded.

When the government official had left the houses, Theopompus rubbed his hands and said:  “Now if you will follow my advice on all points you can stay in Egypt safely enough.  Keep these little rolls as if they were the apple of your eye, and never part from them.  Now, however, I must beg you to follow me to breakfast and to tell me, if agreeable to you, whether a report which has just been making the round of the market is not, as usual, entirely false.  A trireme from Kolophon, namely, has brought the news that your powerful brother, noble Bartja, is preparing to make war with Amasis.”