carefully abstained from all intercourse with the
Persians, that he became a proverb among them for his gloomy, silent
ways. During the day he was to be found in the queen's apartments,
silently examining large rolls of papyri, which he called the book of
Athotes and the sacred Ambres; at night, by permission of the king and
the satraps of Babylon, he often ascended one of the high towers on the
walls, called Tritantaechmes, in order to observe the stars.

The Chaldaean priests, the earliest astronomers, would have allowed him
to take his observations from the summit of the great temple of
Bel, their own observatory, but he refused this offer decidedly, and
persisted in his haughty reserve. When Oropastes attempted to explain
to him the celebrated Babylonian sun-dial, introduced by Anaximander of
Miletus into Greece, he turned from the Magian with a scornful laugh,
saying: "We knew all this, before you knew the meaning of an hour."

Nitetis had shown Nebenchari much kindness, yet he took no interest in
her, seemed indeed to avoid her purposely, and on her asking whether she
had displeased or offended him, answered: "For me you are a stranger.
How can I reckon those my friends, who can so gladly and so quickly
forget those they loved best, their gods, and the customs of their
native land?"

Boges quickly discovered this state of feeling on the part of
Nebenchari, and took much pains to secure him as an ally, but the
physician rejected the eunuch's flatteries, gifts, and attentions with
dignity.

No sooner did an Angare appear in the court of the palace with
despatches for the king, than Boges hastened to enquire whether news
from the Tapuri had arrived.

At length the desired messenger appeared, bringing word that the rebels
were subdued, and Bartja on the point of returning.

Three weeks passed--fresh messengers arrived from day to day announcing
the approach of the victorious prince; the streets glittered once more
in festal array, the army entered the gates of Babylon, Bartja thanked
the rejoicing multitude, and a short time after was in the arms of his
blind mother.

Cambyses received his brother with undisguised warmth, and took him to
the queen's apartments, when he knew that Nitetis would be there.

For he was sure the Egyptian girl loved him; his previous jealousy
seemed a silly fancy now, and he wished to give Bartja an opportunity of
seeing how entirely he trusted his bride.

Cambyses' love had made