have come to pass--

SATNI. Yaouma is not in danger, or Mieris, of Rheou?

STEWARD. No. All three are safe in the palace.

SATNI. Well?

STEWARD. You remember the order the master gave me this morning, after
the death of the gods?

SATNI. No.

STEWARD. Yes, to open his granaries to all.

SATNI. Yes, yes, well?

STEWARD. When I went to obey, to my amazement I beheld the men stand by
the door in earnest converse, then without entering they withdrew. This
is what happened. They went to the house of the neighboring master,
roused his servants and laborers, and strove to force them to overthrow
the statues of his gods, and rob him of his corn. They killed his
steward. Soldiers came--Nepk had been killed, others too. Then all were
scattered. The master sent me to bid you reason with those whom you
might find. Look! there are some who have taken refuge here! [_To some
men who are outside_] Enter--come--Satni would speak with you!

_Bitiou, Sokiti, and Nourm appear behind the wall. Bitiou
comes in._

SATNI [_To Bitiou_] Whither go you?

STEWARD. Whither go you? Whence come you?

BITIOU. I followed the others--

STEWARD. Whence come you?

BITIOU. I came back with the others, Sokiti and Nourm.

SATNI. Where are they?

BITIOU. There.

STEWARD. Bid them enter.

SATNI [_going to the door_] Sokiti, Nourm, come.

_Sokiti and Nourm enter awkwardly._

STEWARD. Why do you hide yourselves?

NOURM. We do not hide from you, but from the Lybian soldiers.

SATNI. Why do you fear them?

SOKITI. Because they are chasing us.

STEWARD. And why are they chasing you?

_The three men look at each other._

SATNI. Bitiou, answer.

BITIOU. Bitiou knows not.

STEWARD [_to the others_] You know it, you.

NOURM. They took us for the others.

SATNI. What others?

NOURM. Perhaps they took us for the servants of the neighboring master.

STEWARD. They have done mischief, then, the servants of the neighboring
master? [_Pause_] Answer--you!

NOURM [_to Satni_] They did that at his house, that you made us do at
yours.

STEWARD. The priests heard of it?

NOURM. No, but the master sent for the soldiers.

SATNI. Only for that!

NOURM. I know not.

SATNI. Had there been nothing else, he would not have sent for the
Lybian soldiers. He knew our projects--he is with us. There is something
else, eh!--

_Bitiou yawns loudly._

SOKITI. Yes.

SATNI. What?

SOKITI [_to Nourm_] Tell.

NO