The Greek clasped the offered hand and answered: "Our first point now is to make sure of the king's favor." "I will restore Kassandane's sight." "Is that in your power?" "The operation which removed Amasis' blindness was my own discovery. Petammon stole it from my burnt papers." "Why did you not exert your skill earlier?" "Because I am not accustomed to bestow presents on my enemies." Phanes shuddered slightly at these words, recovered himself, however, in a moment, and said: "And I am certain of the king's favor too. The Massagetan envoys have gone home to-day; peace has been granted them and..." While he was speaking the door was burst open and one of Kassandane's eunuchs rushed into the room crying: "The Princess Nitetis is dying! Follow me at once, there is not a moment to lose." The physician made a parting sign to his confederate, and followed the eunuch to the dying-bed of the royal bride. ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS: Blessings go as quickly as they come Hast thou a wounded heart? touch it seldom Nothing is perfectly certain in this world Only two remedies for heart-sickness:--hope and patience Remember, a lie and your death are one and the same Scarcely be able to use so large a sum--Then abuse it Whatever a man would do himself, he thinks others are capable of When love has once taken firm hold of a man in riper years