Nebenchari's eyes were fixed thoughtfully on the ground during this tale. When Phanes had finished, he gave him a penetrating look and said: "Where are my papers?"
"They are in Onuphis' hands. He is looking among them for the document I want."
"I expected to hear that. Be so good as to tell me what the box is like, which Hib thought proper to bring over to Persia?"
"It is a small ebony trunk, with an exquisitely-carved lid. In the centre is a winged beetle, and on the four corners..."
"That contains nothing but a few of my father's notices and memorandums," said Nebenchari, drawing a deep breath of relief.
"They will very likely be sufficient for my purpose. I do not know whether you have heard, that I stand as high as possible in Cambyses' favor."
"So much the better for you. I can assure you, however, that the paper. which would have been most useful to you have all been left behind in Egypt."
"They were in a large chest made of sycamore-wood and painted in colors."
"How do you know that?"
"Because--now listen well to what I am going to say, Nebenchari--because I can tell you (I do not swear, for our great master Pythagoras forbade oaths), that this very chest, with all it contained, was burnt in the grove of the temple of Neith, in Sais, by order of the king."
Phanes spoke slowly, emphasizing every syllable, and the words seemed to strike the Egyptian like so many flashes of lightning. His quiet coolness and deliberation gave way to violent emotion; his cheeks glowed and his eyes flashed. But only for one single minute; then the strong emotion seemed to freeze, his burning cheeks grew pale. "You are trying to make me hate my friends, in order to gain me as your ally," he said, coldly and calmly. "I know you Greeks very well. You are so intriguing and artful, that there is no lie, no fraud, too base, if it will only help to gain your purpose."
"You judge me and my countrymen in true Egyptian fashion; that is, they are foreigners, and therefore must be bad men. But this time your suspicions happen to be misplaced. Send for old Hib; he will tell you whether I am right or not."
Nebenchari's face darkened, as Hib came into the room.
"Come nearer," said he in a commanding tone to the old man.
Hib obeyed with a shrug of the shoulders.