Next morning the lordly Sargon lay on his felt couch till midday. He lay thus rather frequently, however, that is, after each drinking-feast. Near him, on a low divan, sat the devout Istubar, with eyes fixed on the ceiling, while muttering a prayer. "Istubar," sighed the dignitary, "art thou sure that no man of our court knows of my misfortune?" "Who could know, if thou hast seen no one?" "But the Egyptians!" groaned Sargon. "Of the Egyptians Mentezufis and the prince know, yes, and those madmen who surely will remember thy fists for a long time." "They may--they may; but it seems to me that the heir was among them, and that his nose is crushed, if not broken." "The heir has a sound nose, and he was not there, I assure thee." "In that case," sighed Sargon, "the prince should impale a good number of those rioters on stakes. I am an ambassador; my person is sacred." "But I tell thee," counselled Istubar, "to cast anger from thy heart, and not to complain even; for if those rioters are arraigned before a court, the whole world will learn that the ambassador of the most worthy King Assar goes about among Phœnicians, and, what is worse, visits them alone during night hours. What wilt thou answer if thy mortal enemy, the chancellor Lik-Bagus, asks thee, 'Sargon, what Phœnicians didst thou see, and of what was thy discourse with them at night, outside their temple?'" Sargon sighed, if sounds like the growling of a lion are to be called sighs. That moment one of the Assyrian officers rushed in. He knelt down, struck the pavement with his forehead, and said to Sargon,-- "Light of our lord's eyes! There is a crowd of magnates and dignitaries of Egypt before the entrance, and at the head of them the heir himself, with the evident intention of giving thee homage." But before Sargon could utter a command, the prince was in the door of the chamber. He pushed the gigantic watch aside, and approached the felts quickly, while the confused ambassador, with widely opened eyes, knew not what to do,--to flee naked to another chamber, or hide beneath the covers. On the threshold stood a number of Assyrian officers, astonished at the invasion of the heir in opposition to every etiquette. But Istubar made a sign to them, and they vanished. The prince was alone; he had left his suite in the courtyard. "Be greeted, O ambassador of a great king, and guest of the pharaoh. I have come to visit thee and inquire if thou hast need of anything, also to learn if time and desire will permit thee to ride in my company on a horse from my father's stables, surrounded by our suites in a manner becoming an ambassador of the mighty Assar,--may he live through eternity!" Sargon listened as he lay there, without understanding a syllable. But when Istubar interpreted the words of the Egyptian viceroy, the ambassador felt such delight that he beat his head against the couch, repeating the names Rameses and Assar.