ty, as you know, hungry and thirsty himself, and
scarcely clothed, and begging for his adopted children, the poor. We
have all given to him, for we all know for whom he humbles himself,
and holds out his hand. To-day he went round with his little bag, and
begged, with his kind good eyes, for alms. Paaker has given us a good
piece of arable land, and thinks, perhaps with reason, that he has done
his part. When Seni addressed him, he told him to go; but the old man
did not give up asking him, he followed him persistently to the grave
of his father, and a great many people with him. Then the pioneer pushed
him angrily back, and when at last the beggar clutched his garment,
he raised his whip, and struck him two or three times, crying out:
'There-that is your portion!' The good old man bore it quite patiently,
while he untied the bag, and said with tears in his eyes: 'My
portion--yes--but not the portion of the poor!'

"I was standing near, and I saw how Paaker hastily withdrew into the
tomb, and how his mother Setchem threw her full purse to Seni. Others
followed her example, and the old man never had a richer harvest. The
poor may thank the Mohar! A crowd of people collected in front of the
tomb, and he would have fared badly if it had not been for the police
guard who drove them away."

During this narrative, which was heard with much approval--for no one is
more secure of his result than he who can tell of the downfall of a man
who is disliked for his arrogance--the Regent and the high-priest had
been eagerly whispering to each other.

"There can be no doubt," said Ameni, "that Bent-Anat did actually come
to the festival."

"And had also dealings with the priest whom you so warmly defend,"
whispered the other.

"Pentaur shall be questioned this very night," returned the high-priest.
"The dishes will soon be taken away, and the drinking will begin. Let us
go and hear what the poet says."

"But there are now no witnesses," replied Ani.

"We do not need them," said Ameni. "He is incapable of a lie."

"Let us go then," said the Regent smiling, "for I am really curious
about this white negro, and how he will come to terms with the truth.
You have forgotten that there is a woman in the case."

"That there always is!" answered Ameni; he called Gagabu to him, gave
him his seat, begged him to keep up the flow of cheerful conversation,
to encourage the guests to drink, and to interrupt all talk of the king,
the state,