Nebsecht took the heart out of the covering with trembling hands and
laid it carefully down. Then he felt in the breast of his dress, and
going up to the paraschites he whispered:

"Here, take the writing, hang it round your neck, and when you die I
will have the book of scripture wrapped up in your mummy cloths like a
great man. But that is not enough. The property that I inherited is in
the hands of my brother, who is a good man of business, and I have not
touched the interest for ten years. I will send it to you, and you and
your wife shall enjoy an old age free from care."

The paraschites had taken the little bag with the strip of papyrus, and
heard the leech to the end. Then he turned from him saying: "Keep thy
money; we are quits. That is if the child gets well," he added humbly.

"She is already half cured," stammered Nebsecht. "But why will you--why
won't you accept--"

"Because till to day I have never begged nor borrowed," said the
paraschites, "and I will not begin in my old age. Life for life. But
what I have done this day not Rameses with all his treasure could
repay."

Nebsecht looked down, and knew not how to answer the old man.

His wife now came out; she set a bowl of lentils that she had hastily
warmed before the two men, with radishes and onions,

[Radishes, onions, and garlic were the hors-d'oeuvre of an Egyptian
dinner. 1600 talents worth were consumed, according to Herodotus.
during the building of the pyramid of Cheops--L360,000 (in 1881.)]

then she helped Uarda, who did not need to be carried, into the house,
and invited Nebsecht to share their meal. He accepted her invitation,
for he had eaten nothing since the previous evening.

When the old woman had once more disappeared indoors, he asked the
paraschites:

"Whose heart is it that you have brought me, and how did it come into
your hands?"

"Tell me first," said the other, "why thou hast laid such a heavy sin
upon my soul?"

"Because I want to investigate the structure of the human heart," said
Nebsecht, "so that, when I meet with diseased hearts, I may be able to
cure them."

The paraschites looked for a long time at the ground in silence; then he
said:

"Art thou speaking the truth?"

"Yes," replied the leech with convincing emphasis. "I am glad," said the
old man, "for thou givest help to the poor."

"As willingly as to the rich!" exclaimed Nebsecht. "But tell me now
where you got the heart."

"I went into