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Updated: June 1, 2025
But when that night, chancing to go round the corner of the house, I came upon him with a circlet of feathers round his head and his big bow in his hand, addressing three great black men who knelt before him as though he were a god, I changed my mind. As I withdrew he caught sight of me and said, "I pray you, my lord Shabaka, stay one moment."
That seal is a holy token, O Prince, which, it is said, has descended for twice a thousand years in the family of the Great King, and as the Satrap did not know how it had come into the hands of the noble Shabaka, he ordered me to obtain it if I could." "And the pearls too, Butler?" "Yes, O Prince, since those gems are a great possession with which any Satrap could buy a larger satrapy."
"Perhaps my cousin Shabaka will tell us his story," broke in Amada, her eyes still fixed upon the rose-hued pearls, "and of how he came to win all the beauteous things that dazzle our eyes to-night." Now I thought of offering her the pearls, but remembering my mother's words, also that the Princess might not like to see another woman bear off such a prize, did not do so.
"The Satrap Idernes has sworn by the Great King to kill the thief of the Signet and send his head to the Great King, and fears that if he waits to meet him in battle, he may slip away. Therefore he is minded to accept your challenge, O Shabaka, and put an end to you, and indeed under the laws of the East he may not refuse.
"I am Shabaka," I answered, "and this is Bes, who is not my slave but a free citizen of Egypt." The girl contemplated the dwarf with her big eyes, then said, "And other things, I think." "What things?" inquired Bes with interest, as he stared at this beautiful lady. "A very brave and clever man and one perhaps who is more than he seems to be?"
Mayhap you might discover. Well, you are hungry and worn with long travelling. Come, let us eat, and afterwards you can tell your story. Amada and the others will be glad to hear it, as I shall. Follow me, Count Shabaka." So we went to the lesser banqueting-hall, I filled with joy because I should see Amada, and yet, much afraid because of that story which I must tell.
"So you gave the name of Amada to the Great King, did you? Well, you could have done nothing else if you wished to go on living, and therefore cannot be blamed. Yet before all is finished I think it will bring you into trouble, Shabaka, since among many gifts, the gods did not give that of reason to women.
"Greeting, Cousin Amada," I answered, "but she must be a jealous goddess who grudges a thought to a relative and friend at such a time." "She is jealous, Shabaka, as being the Queen of women she must be who demands to reign alone in the hearts of her votaries.
Because you wear Eastern armour do you think that you can dare the curse of Isis?" Then I fell back, the holy image of the goddess passed and the procession vanished through the pylon gate. I, Shabaka the Egyptian, stood by my horse and watched it depart.
"Therefore for the sake of the gods, for Egypt's sake and for my own, I pray you come and save us. Moreover I still love you, Shabaka, yes, more a thousand times, then ever I did, though whether you still love me I know not.
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