ed and trusty watchmen
set to guard them, Peroa expounded the case in a low and earnest voice.
He showed them that the King of the East sought a new quarrel against
Egypt that he might grind her to powder beneath his heel, and that he
did this by demanding the person of Amada, his own niece and the Royal
Lady of Egypt, to be included in his household like any common woman. If
she were refused then he would send a great army under pretext of taking
her, and lay the land waste as far as Thebes. And if she were granted
some new quarrel would be picked and in the person of the royal Amada
all of them be for ever shamed.

Next he showed the seal, telling them that I--who was known to many of
them, at least by repute--had brought it from the East, and repeating to
them the plan that I had proposed upon the previous night. After this he
asked their counsel, saying that before noon he must send an answer to
Idernes, the King's Satrap at Sais.

Then I was called upon to speak and, in answer to questions, answered
frankly that I had stolen the ancient White Seal from the King's servant
who carried it as a warrant for the King's private vengeance on one who
had bested him. How I did not mention. I told them also of the state of
the Great King's empire and that I had heard that he was about to enter
upon a war with the Greeks which would need all its strength, and that
therefore if they wished to strike for liberty the time was at hand.

Then the talk began and lasted for two hours, each man giving his
judgment according to precedence, some one way and some another. When
all had done and it became clear that there were differences of opinion,
some being content to live on in slavery with what remained to them and
others desiring to strike for freedom, among whom were the high priests
who feared lest the Eastern heretics should utterly destroy their
worship, Peroa spoke once more.

"Elders of Egypt," he said briefly, "certain of you think one way, and
certain another, but of this be sure, such talk as we have held together
cannot be hid. It will come to the ears of spies and through them to
those of the Great King, and then all of us alike are doomed. If you
refuse to stir, this very day I with my family and household and the
Royal Lady Amada, and all who cling to me, fly to Upper Egypt and
perhaps beyond it to Ethiopia, leaving you to deal with the Great King,
as you will, or to follow me into exile. That he will attack us there