“No offence, brother,” responded the headsman, as soothingly as he knew how. “Here, girl, fill the noble exorcist’s jug again, and put it on my reckoning. A long pull now,—to the confusion of every Jew and traducer of the gods! Ha! What a happy life this would be, if it were all one round of quaffing palm-wine.” “You are very generous,” remarked Gudea, appeased. “I swear these last skins Nur-Samas had sent up from Sirgulla are delightfully heady. My crown already begins to go round like a chariot wheel. You are an excellent man, my lovely Khatin, a most excellent man! By Marduk, I love you!” He had pulled his stool beside that of Khatin, put his arm around the executioner, and rocked to and fro, displaying his affection. Khatin likewise, feeling the liquor loosening his tongue, began to grow confidential. “Hist!” admonished he, “I am in a great way to be consoled. Do you know there is a rumour around the palace, about Daniel—” “Daniel the ‘civil-minister,’ the great Jew?” demanded Binit, jerking her nose out of her jug. “The very same,” grunted Khatin, chuckling again; “it is reported that Avil-Marduk—” Before he could finish the sentence, which all around had stopped drinking and talking that they might hear, a call came down the stairway from the street entrance. “Where is Gudea the exorcist?” The wizard rose, not too tipsy to answer:— “I am he. Who are you? What do you wish?” “I am Joram, son of Saruch, the rope merchant,” came the reply. “My father is again torn by convulsions. Terrible demons are rending him. Hasten! Come and cast them out.” Gudea put on a professional tone at once. “Take comfort, excellent youth; you command my best skill. Yet my time is valuable; in justice to my wife I must ask five shekels.” “Say ten, if only the demons never return.” “Will you come also, my Khatin?” said Gudea, adjusting his long robes. “You shall see my spells accomplish that of which no Egyptian dreams. And you, wife, hasten home, bring the incense pots, aromatic herbs, cloves, garlic, the wool of a young sheep, and some raw serpent’s flesh. We shall need a powerful exorcism.” And with that Binit went her way, while Khatin followed his friend into the yet busy street.