Then I knew that I was safe for he to whom the King has extended his sceptre is forgiven all crimes, yes, even if he had attempted the royal life.  The Court knew it also, for every man who saw bowed towards me, yes, even the officers behind the King.  One of the cup-bearers too brought me a goblet of the King’s own wine, which I drank thankfully, calling down health on the King.

“That was a wonderful shot of yours, Egyptian,” he said, “when you sent an arrow through the lioness that dared to attack my Majesty.  Yes, the King owes his life to you and he is grateful as you shall learn.  This slave of yours,” and he pointed to Bes in his gaudy attire, “has brought the whole matter to my mind whence it had fallen, and, Shabaka,” here he hiccupped, “you may have noted how differently things look to the naked eye and when seen through a wine goblet.  He has told me a wonderful story—­what was the story, Dwarf?”

“May it please the great King,” answered Bes, rolling his big eyes, “only a little tale of another king of my own country whom I used to think great until I came to the East and learned what kings could be.  That king had a servant with whom he used to hunt, indeed he was my own father.  One day they were out together seeking a certain elephant whose tusks were bigger than those of any other.  Then the elephant charged the king and my father, at the risk of his life, killed it and claimed the tusks, as is the custom among the Ethiopians.  But the king who greatly desired those tusks, caused my father to be poisoned that he might take them as his heir.  Only before he died, my father, who could talk the elephant language, told all the other elephants of this wickedness, at which they were very angry, because they knew well that from the beginning of time their tusks have belonged to him who killed them, and the elephants are a people who do not like ancient laws to be altered.  So the elephants made a league together and when the king next went out hunting, taking heed of nothing else they rushed at the king and tore him into pieces no bigger than a finger, and then killed the prince his son, who was behind him.  That is the tale of the elephants who love Law, O King.”

“Yes, yes,” said his Majesty, waking up from a little doze, “but what became of the great tusks?  I should like to have them.”

“I inherited them as my father’s son, O King, and gave them to my master, who doubtless will send them to you when he gets back to Egypt.”

“A strange tale,” said the King.  “A very strange tale which seems to remind me of something that happened not long ago.  What was it?  Well, it does not matter.  Egyptian, do you seek any reward for that shot of yours at the lioness?  If so, it shall be given to you.  Have you a grudge against anyone, for instance?”

“O King,” I answered, “I do seek justice against a certain man.  This evening I was led to the bank of the river in charge of the eunuch Houman, who desired to take me for a row in a boat.  On the road, for no offence he struck me on the head with the handle of his fly-whip.  See, here are the marks of it, O King.  Unless the King commanded him to strike me which I do not remember, I seek justice against this eunuch.”