.

." "Be silent," interrupted the king, "and keep to the matter in hand." "Just as the Tistar-star was rising, I came into the garden, and staid some time there with these noble Achaemenidae, the high-priest and the king Croesus, looking at the blue lily, which was marvellously beautiful.
I then called my colleague Kandaules and asked him, in the presence of these noble witnesses, if everything was in order.

He affirmed that this was the case and added, that he had just come from Nitetis, that she had wept the whole day, and neither tasted food nor drink.

Feeling anxious lest my noble mistress should become worse, I commissioned Kandaules to fetch a physician, and was just on the point of leaving the noble Achaemenidae, in order in person to ascertain my mistress's state of health, when I saw in the moon-light the figure of a man.

I was so ill and weak, that I could hardly stand and had no one near to help me, except the gardener.
"My men were on guard at the different entrances, some distance from us.
"I clapped my hands to call some of them, but, as they did not come, I went nearer to the house myself, under the protection of these noblemen .-- The man was standing by the window of the Egyptian Princess's apartment, and uttered a low whistle when he heard us coming up.