' forefathers had been called, a rank which
commanded respect both at court and among the populace.

The dragoman had not told the merchant too much beforehand of the
governor's possessions: he had vast estates, in both Upper and Lower
Egypt, tilled by thousands of slaves under numerous overseers. Here in
Memphis was the centre of administration of his property, and besides the
offices for his private affairs were those he needed as a state official.

Well-kept quays, and the wide road running along the harbor side, divided
his large domain from the river, and a street ran along the wall which
enclosed it on the north. On this side was the great gate, always wide
open by day, by which servants or persons on business-errands made their
entrance; the other gate, a handsome portal with Corinthian columns
opening from the Nile-quay, was that by which the waterparty had returned
the evening before. This was kept closed, and only opened for the family,
or for guests and distinguished visitors. There was a guardhouse at the
north gate with a small detachment of Egyptian soldiers, who were
entrusted with the protection of the Mukaukas' person.

As soon as the refreshing evening breeze came up from the river after the
heat of the day there was a stir in the great court-yard. Men, women and
girls came trooping out of the retainers' dwellings to breathe the cooler
air. Waiting-maids and slaves dipped for water into enormous earthen
vessels and carried it away in graceful jars; the free-men of the
household rested in groups after the fatigues of the day, chatting,
playing and singing. From the slaves' quarters in another court-yard came
confused sounds of singing hymns, with the shrill tones of the double
pipe and duller noise of the tabor--an invitation to dance; scolding and
laughter; the jubilant shouts of a girl led out to dance, and the shrieks
of a victim to the overseer's rod.

The servant's gateway, still hung with flowers and wreaths in honor of
Orion's recent return, was wide open for the coming and going of the
accountants and scribes, or of such citizens as came very willingly to
pay an evening call on their friends in the governor's household; for
there were always some officials near the Mukaukas' person who knew more
than other folks of the latest events in Church and State.

Ere long a considerable number of men had assembled to sit under the deep
wooden porch of the head-steward's dwelling, all taking eager part