The Pharaoh And The Priest Part 34

"Not an uten."

"Give the poor fellows even ten drachmas."

"Go in peace, Asarhadon, and beg the G.o.ds to return thee thy reason,"

answered the traveller, with the same unchanging calmness.

The host sprang up, panting from anger.

"The reptile!" thought he. "He has not come for a debt simply. He is doing some business here. My heart tells me that he is a rich merchant, or maybe an innkeeper who, in company with priests and judges, will open another inn somewhere near this one. May the first fire of heaven burn thee! May the leprosy devour thee! Miser, deceiver, criminal from whom an honest man can make nothing."

The worthy Asarhadon had not succeeded yet in calming himself when the sounds of a flute and a drum were heard on the street, and after a while four dancers, almost naked, rushed into the courtyard. The carriers and sailors greeted them with shouts of delight, and even important merchants in the galleries looked at them with curiosity and made remarks on their beauty. The dancers with motions of the hands and with smiles greeted all the company. One began to play on a double flute, another accompanied with a drum, and the two others danced around the court in such fashion that there was hardly a guest whom their muslin shawls did not strike as they whirled.

Those who were drinking began to sing, shout, and call to the dancers, while among the common herd a quarrel sprang up which the inspectors settled with canes. A certain Libyan, angered at sight of the canes, drew a knife, but two black men seized his arms, took from him some bronze rings as pay for food, and hurled him out to the street.

Meanwhile one of the dancers remained with the sailors, two went among the merchants who offered them wine and cakes, and the oldest pa.s.sed among the tables to make a collection.

"By the sanctuary of the divine Isis!" cried she, "pious strangers, give offerings to the G.o.ddess who guards all creation. The more you give the more happiness and blessing will come to you. For the sanctuary of Mother Isis!"

They threw onto her drum coils of copper wire, sometimes a grain of gold. One merchant asked if it were permitted to visit her, to which she nodded with a smile.

When she entered the front gallery, Phut of Harran reached for his leather bag and took out a gold ring, saying,--

"Istar is a great and good G.o.ddess; take this for her sanctuary."

The priestess looked quickly at him and whispered,--

"Anael, Sachiel--"

"Amabiel, Abalidot," answered the traveller, in the same low tone.

"I see that thou lovest Mother Isis," said the priestess, aloud. "Thou must be wealthy and art bountiful, so it is worth while to soothsay for thee."

She sat down near him, ate a couple of dates, and looking at his hand began,--

"Thou art from a distant region, from Bretor and Hagit.[6] Thou hast had a pleasant journey. _For some days the Phnicians are watching thee_," added she, in a lower voice.

[6] The spirits of the northern and eastern parts of the world.

"Thou hast come for money, though thou art not a merchant. _Visit me this day after sunset._ Thy wishes will be accomplished," said she, aloud. "They should be accomplished. _I live on the Street of Tombs in the house of the Green Star_," whispered she. "But beware of thieves who are watching for thy property," finished she, seeing that the worthy Asarhadon was listening.

"There are no thieves in my house!" burst out the Phnician. "None steal except those who come from the street."

"Be not angry, old man," replied the priestess, jeeringly, "or a red line will come out on thy neck right away; that means an unlucky death."

When he heard this, Asarhadon spat three times, and in a low voice repeated a charm against evil predictions. When he had moved away to the depth of the gallery, the priestess began to coquet with the Harran man. She gave him a rose from her crown, embraced him at parting, and went to the other tables.

The traveller beckoned to the host.

"I wish," said he, "that woman to come to me. Give command to conduct her to my chamber."

Asarhadon looked into his eyes, clapped his hands, and burst out laughing.

"Typhon has possessed thee, O man of Harran!" cried he. "If anything of that sort happened in my house with an Egyptian priestess, they would drive me out of the city. Here it is permissible to receive only foreign women."

"In that case I will go to her," answered Phut, "for she is a wise and devout person, and has told me of many happenings. After sunset thou wilt give me a guide, so that I may not go astray."

"All the evil spirits have entered thy heart," said Asarhadon. "Dost thou know that this acquaintance will cost thee two hundred drachmas, perhaps three hundred, not counting that which thou must give the servants and the sanctuary. For such a sum, or say five hundred drachmas, thou mayst make the acquaintance of a young and virtuous woman, my daughter, who is now fourteen years of age, and like a prudent girl is collecting for herself a dowry. Do not wander in the night through a strange city, for thou wilt fall into the hands of the police or of thieves, but make use of that which the G.o.ds give thee at home. Dost thou wish?"

"But will thy daughter go with me to Harran?" inquired Phut.

The innkeeper looked at him with astonishment. All at once he struck his forehead, as if he had divined a secret, and seizing the traveller by the hand, he drew him to a quieter place at the window.

"I know all," whispered he, excitedly. "Thou art dealing in women. But remember that for taking away one Egyptian woman thou mayst lose thy property and go to the quarries. But--perhaps thou wilt take me into thy company, for here I know every road."

"In that case show me the road to the priestess," said Phut. "Remember that after sunset thou art to have a guide for me, and to-morrow my bags and casket, otherwise I shall complain to the court."

Then Phut left the gallery and went to his chamber on a higher story.

Asarhadon with anger approached a table at which Phnician merchants were drinking, and called aside one of them named Kush.

"Thou bringest beautiful guests to me!" said he, unable to restrain the quivering of his voice. "That Phut eats almost nothing, and now, as if to insult my house, he is going out to an Egyptian dancer instead of giving presents to my women."

"What wonder in that?" answered Kush, smiling. "He could find a Phnician woman in Sidon, but here he prefers an Egyptian. A fool is he who in Cyprus does not taste Cyprus wine, but Tyrian beer--"

"But I say," broke in the host, "that that man is dangerous. He seems to be a citizen, though he looks like a priest."

"Thou, Asarhadon, hast the look of a high priest, though thou art only an innkeeper. A bench does not cease to be a bench, though it has a lion's skin on it."

"But why does he go to priestesses? I would swear that that is a pretence, and that this churlish Hitt.i.te, instead of going to a feast with women, is going to some meeting of conspirators."

"Anger and greed have darkened thy reason," answered Kush, with impatience. "Thou art like a man who looking for melons on a fig-tree sees not the figs on it. It is clear to any merchant that if Phut is to collect five talents from a priest he must win favors from all who go around in the sanctuaries. But thou hast no understanding."

"My heart tells me that this must be an a.s.syrian amba.s.sador watching to destroy his holiness."

Kush looked with contempt on Asarhadon.

"Watch him, then; follow every step of his. If thou discover anything, perhaps thou wilt get some part of his property."

"Oh, now thou hast given wise counsel," said the host. "Let that rat go to the priestesses, and from them to places unknown to me. But I will send after him my vision, from which nothing will be secret."

CHAPTER XX

About nine in the evening Phut left the inn "Under the Ship" in company with a negro who carried a torch. Half an hour earlier Asarhadon sent out a confidential servant, commanding him to observe carefully if the guest from Harran left the house of the "Green Star,"

and if so to follow him.