Weeping and lamentation followed; cries, reproaches, curses, entreaties and prayers; but the king remained firm, and I verily believe Kassandane and Atossa would have been sent after Croesus and Bartja into the other world, if fear of Cyrus's spirit had not prevented the son, even in this furious rage, from laying hands on his father's widow.

Kassandane, however, did not say one word for Nitetis.

She seems as fully convinced of her guilt as you and I can be.

Neither have we anything to fear from the enamored Gaumata.

I have hired three men to give him a cool bath in the Euphrates, before he gets back to Rhagae.