Several people entered the room at that instant, and I stood still in the same place where I was, ready to receive the Iteghé’s orders: she said, “Come back, and speak to Abba Salama.” I then advanced a few paces forward, and said, looking to the Iteghé, “What has Abba Salama to say to me?” He began directing his discourse to the queen, “Is he a priest? Is he a priest?” The Iteghè answered very gravely, “Every good man is a priest to himself; in that sense, and no other, Yagoube is a priest.”--“Will you answer a question that I will ask you?” says he to me, with a very pert tone of voice. “I do not know but I may, if it is a discreet one,” said I, in Tigrè. “Why don’t you speak Amharic?” says he to me in great haste, or seeming impatience. “Because I cannot speak it well,” said I. “Why don’t you, on the other hand, speak Tigré to me? it is the language the holy scriptures are written in, and you, a priest, should understand it.”--“That is Geez,” says he; “I understand it, though I don’t speak it.”--“Then,” replied I, “Ayto Heikel,” the queen’s chamberlain, who stood behind me, “shall interpret for us; he understands all languages.” “Ask him, Heikel,” says he, “how many Natures there are in Christ.” Which being repeated to me, I said, “I thought the question to be put was something relating to my country, travels, or profession, in which I possibly could instruct him; and not belonging to his, in which he should instruct me. I am a physician in the town, a horseman and soldier in the field. Physic is my study in the one, and managing my horse and arms in the other. This I was bred to; as for disputes and matters of religion, they are the province of priests and schoolmen. I profess myself much more ignorant in these than I ought to be. Therefore, when I have doubts I propose them to some holy man like you, Abba Salama, (he bowed for the first time) whose profession these things are. He gives me a rule and I implicitly follow it.” “Truth! truth!” says he; “by St Michael, prince of angels, that is right; it is answered well; by St George! he is a clever fellow. They told me he was a Jesuit. Will you come to see me? Will you come to see me? You need not be afraid when you come to _me_.” “I trust,” said I, bowing, “I shall do no ill, in that case shall have no reason to fear.” Upon this I withdrew from among the crowd, and went away, as an express then arrived from Ras Michael.