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โ€œYes, my Ruler.โ€

โ€œDo they acknowledge their guilt, when speaking to each other?โ€

โ€œMithras alone knows the heart; but you, my prince, if you could hear them speak, would believe in their innocence, even as I the humblest of your servants.โ€

The captain looked up timidly at the king, fearing lest these words should have excited his anger; Cambyses, however, smiled kindly instead of rebuking him. But a sudden thought darkened his brow again directly, and in a low voice he asked: โ€œWhen was Croesus executed?โ€

The man trembled at this question; the perspiration stood on his forehead, and he could scarcely stammer the words: โ€œHe is... he has ... we thought....โ€

โ€œWhat did you think?โ€ interrupted Cambyses, and a new light of hope seemed to dawn in his mind. โ€œIs it possible, that you did not carry out my orders at once? Can Croesus still be alive? Speak at once, I must know the whole truth.โ€

The captain writhed like a worm at his lordโ€™s feet, and at last stammered out, raising his hands imploringly towards the king: โ€œHave mercy, have mercy, my Lord the king! I am a poor man, and have thirty children, fifteen of whom...โ€

โ€œI wish to know if Croesus is living or dead.โ€

โ€œHe 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....โ€

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

โ€œMy King is the light of the world, and an ocean of mercy.โ€

โ€œBartja 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.โ€

The โ€œkingโ€™s eyeโ€ was on the point of departure, but Phanes detained him, saying: โ€œDoes my King allow me to make one remark?โ€

โ€œSpeak.โ€

โ€œIt 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.โ€

โ€œGo at once, Datis, and bring him quickly.โ€

โ€œThe high-priest Oropastes, Gaumataโ€™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.โ€

โ€œFetch her, Datis.โ€

โ€œIf Nitetis herself could...โ€

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 womanโ€™s reproachful looks; he knew the captivating power that lay in her eyes. So he pointed to the door, saying โ€œFetch Boges and Mandane; the Egyptian Princess is to remain in the hanging-gardens, under strict custody.โ€

The Athenian bowed deferentially; as if he would say: โ€œHere no one has a right to command but the king.โ€

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 himโ€”that Nitetis must be innocentโ€”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.

The entrance of Croesus roused Cambyses from his dream; he raised the old man kindly from the prostrate position at his feet, into which he had thrown himself on entering, and said: โ€œYou offended me, but I will be merciful; I have not forgotten that my father, on his dying bed, told me to make you my friend and adviser. Take your life back as a gift from me, and forget my anger as I wish to forget your want of reverence. This man says he knows you; I should like to hear your opinion of his conjectures.โ€

Croesus turned away much affected, and after having heartily welcomed the Athenian, asked him to relate his suppositions and the grounds on which they were founded.

The old man grew more and more attentive as the Greek went on, and when he had finished raised his hands to heaven, crying: โ€œPardon me, oh ye eternal gods, if I have ever questioned the justice of your decrees. Is not this marvellous, Cambyses? My son once placed himself in great danger to save the life of this noble Athenian, whom the gods have brought hither to repay the deed tenfold. Had Phanes been murdered in Egypt, this hour might have seen our sons executed.โ€

And as he said this he embraced Hystaspes; both shared one feeling; their sons had been as dead and were now alive.

The king, Phanes, and all the Persian dignitaries watched the old men with deep sympathy, and though the proofs of Bartjaโ€™s innocence were as yet only founded on conjecture, not one of those present doubted it one moment longer. Wherever the belief in a manโ€™s guilt is but slight, his defender finds willing listeners.





CHAPTER VI.

THE sharp-witted Athenian saw clearly how matters lay in this sad story; nor did it escape him that malice had had a hand in the affair. How could Bartjaโ€™s dagger have come into the hanging-gardens except through treachery?

While he was telling the king his suspicions, Oropastes was led into the hall.

The king looked angrily at him and without one preliminary word, asked: โ€œHave you a brother?โ€

โ€œYes, my King. He and I are the only two left out of a family of six. My parents...โ€

โ€œIs your brother younger or older than yourself?โ€

โ€œI was the eldest of the family; my brother, the youngest, was the joy of my fatherโ€™s old age.โ€

โ€œDid you ever notice a remarkable likeness between him and one of my

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