He then threw himself down on his divan again, as if these words had quite exhausted his powerful frame, and did not see that Hystaspes had entered, for his sullen gaze was fixed on the motes playing in the sunbeams that glanced through the window. Hystaspes did not dare to address him; but he stationed himself in the window so as to break the stream of motes and thus draw attention to himself. At first Cambyses looked angrily at him and his rent garments, and then asked with a bitter smile; “What do you want?” “Victory to the king! Your poor servant and uncle has come to entreat his ruler’s mercy.” “Then rise and go! You know that I have no mercy for perjurers and false swearers. ‘Tis better to have a dead son than a dishonorable one.” “But if Bartja should not be guilty, and Darius...” “You dare to question the justice of my sentence?” “That be far from me. Whatever the king does is good, and cannot be gainsaid; but still...” “Be silent! I will not hear the subject mentioned again. You are to be pitied as a father; but have these last few hours brought me any joy? Old man, I grieve for you, but I have as little power to rescind his punishment as you to recall his crime.” “But if Bartja really should not be guilty--if the gods...” “Do you think the gods will come to the help of perjurers and deceivers?” “No, my King; but a fresh witness has appeared.” “A fresh witness? Verily, I would gladly give half my kingdom, to be convinced of the innocence of men so nearly related to me.” “Victory to my lord, the eye of the realm! A Greek is waiting outside, who seems, to judge by his figure and bearing, one of the noblest of his race.” The king laughed bitterly: “A Greek! Ah, ha! perhaps some relation to Bartja’s faithful fair one! What can this stranger know of my family affairs? I know these beggarly Ionians well. They are impudent enough to meddle in everything, and think they can cheat us with their sly tricks. How much have you had to pay for this new witness, uncle? A Greek is as ready with a lie as a Magian with his spells, and I know they’ll do anything for gold. I’m really curious to see your witness. Call him in. But if he wants to deceive me, he had better remember that where the head of a son of Cyrus is about to fall, a Greek head has but very little chance.” And the king’s eyes flashed with anger as he said these words. Hystaspes, however, sent for the Greek. Before he entered, the chamberlains fastened the usual cloth before his mouth, and commanded him to cast himself on the ground before the king. The Greek’s bearing, as he approached, under the king’s penetrating glance, was calm and noble; he fell on his face, and, according to the Persian custom, kissed the ground.