"All the evil spirits have entered thy heart," said Asarhadon. "Dost thou know that this acquaintance will cost thee two hundred drachmas, perhaps three hundred, not counting that which thou must give the servants and the sanctuary. For such a sum, or say five hundred drachmas, thou mayst make the acquaintance of a young and virtuous woman, my daughter, who is now fourteen years of age, and like a prudent girl is collecting for herself a dowry. Do not wander in the night through a strange city, for thou wilt fall into the hands of the police or of thieves, but make use of that which the gods give thee at home. Dost thou wish?" "But will thy daughter go with me to Harran?" inquired Phut. The innkeeper looked at him with astonishment. All at once he struck his forehead, as if he had divined a secret, and seizing the traveller by the hand, he drew him to a quieter place at the window. "I know all," whispered he, excitedly. "Thou art dealing in women. But remember that for taking away one Egyptian woman thou mayst lose thy property and go to the quarries. But--perhaps thou wilt take me into thy company, for here I know every road." "In that case show me the road to the priestess," said Phut. "Remember that after sunset thou art to have a guide for me, and to-morrow my bags and casket, otherwise I shall complain to the court." Then Phut left the gallery and went to his chamber on a higher story. Asarhadon with anger approached a table at which Phœnician merchants were drinking, and called aside one of them named Kush. "Thou bringest beautiful guests to me!" said he, unable to restrain the quivering of his voice. "That Phut eats almost nothing, and now, as if to insult my house, he is going out to an Egyptian dancer instead of giving presents to my women." "What wonder in that?" answered Kush, smiling. "He could find a Phœnician woman in Sidon, but here he prefers an Egyptian. A fool is he who in Cyprus does not taste Cyprus wine, but Tyrian beer--" "But I say," broke in the host, "that that man is dangerous. He seems to be a citizen, though he looks like a priest." "Thou, Asarhadon, hast the look of a high priest, though thou art only an innkeeper. A bench does not cease to be a bench, though it has a lion's skin on it." "But why does he go to priestesses? I would swear that that is a pretence, and that this churlish Hittite, instead of going to a feast with women, is going to some meeting of conspirators." "Anger and greed have darkened thy reason," answered Kush, with impatience. "Thou art like a man who looking for melons on a fig-tree sees not the figs on it. It is clear to any merchant that if Phut is to collect five talents from a priest he must win favors from all who go around in the sanctuaries. But thou hast no understanding." "My heart tells me that this must be an Assyrian ambassador watching to destroy his holiness." Kush looked with contempt on Asarhadon.