walls than the smothered rage of the people broke forth; they murdered the Persian sentinels, poisoned the wells, and set the stables of the cavalry on fire.  Megabyzus at once applied to the king, representing that such hostile acts, if not repressed by fear, might soon be followed by open rebellion.  “The two thousand noble youths from Memphis whom you have destined to death as an indemnification for our murdered ambassadors,” said he, “ought to be executed at once; and it would do no harm if the son of Psamtik were added to the number, as he can some day become a rallying centre for the rebels.  I hear that the daughters of the dethroned king and of the high-priest Neithotep have to carry water for the baths of the noble Phanes.”

The Athenian answered with a smile:  “Cambyses has allowed me to employ these aristocratic female attendants, my lord, at my own request.”

“But has forbidden you to touch the life of one member of the royal house,” added Cambyses.  “None but a king has the right to punish kings.”

Phanes bowed.  The king turned to Megabyzus and ordered him to have the prisoners executed the very next day, as an example.  He would decide the fate of the young prince later; but at all events he was to be taken to the place of execution with the rest.  “We must show them,” he concluded, “that we know how to meet all their hostile manifestations with sufficient rigor.”

Croesus ventured to plead for the innocent boy.  “Calm yourself, old friend,” said Cambyses with a smile; “the child is not dead yet, and perhaps will be as well off with us as your own son, who fought so well at Pelusium.  I confess I should like to know, whether Psamtik bears his fate as calmly and bravely as you did twenty-five years ago.”

“That we can easily discover, by putting him on trial,” said Phanes.  “Let him be brought into the palace-court to-morrow, and let the captives and the condemned be led past him.  Then we shall see whether he is a man or a coward.”

“Be it so,” answered Cambyses.  “I will conceal myself and watch him unobserved.  You, Phanes, will accompany me, to tell me the name and rank of each of the captives.”

The next morning Phanes accompanied the king on to a balcony which ran round the great court of the palace—­the court we have already described as being planted with trees.  The listeners were hidden by a grove of flowering shrubs, but they could see every movement that took place, and hear every word that was spoken beneath them.  They saw Psamtik, surrounded by a few of his former companions.  He was leaning against a palm-tree, his eyes fixed gloomily on the ground, as his daughters entered the court.  The daughter of Neithotep was with them, and some more young girls, all dressed as slaves; they were carrying pitchers of water.  At sight of the king, they uttered such a loud cry of anguish as to wake him from his reverie.  He looked up, recognized the miserable girls, and bowed his head lower than before; but only for a moment.  Drawing himself up quickly, he asked his eldest daughter for whom she was carrying water.  On hearing that she was forced to do the work of a slave for Phanes, he turned deadly pale, nodded his head, and cried to the girls, “Go on.”