"While we were looking at the snake-tamers," continued the host, pulling at his parti-colored beard, "thieves reached the second story and stole thy effects, three bags and a casket, of course very precious."
"Thou must inform the court of my loss."
"Wherefore the court?" whispered the host. "With us thieves have a guild of their own. We will send for their elder, and value the effects; Thou wilt pay him twenty per cent of the value and all will be found again. I can assist thee."
"In my country," replied the guest, "no man compounds with thieves, and
I will not. I lodge with thee, I trusted thee with my property, and
Thou wilt answer."
The worthy Asarhadon began to scratch his shoulder-blades.
"Man of a distant region," continued he, in a lower voice, "ye Hittites and we Phoenicians are brothers, hence I advise thee sincerely not to turn to an Egyptian court, for it has only one door, that by which a man enters, but none by which he goes out."
"The gods can conduct an innocent man through a wall," said the
Hittite.
"Innocent! Who of us in the land of bondage is innocent?" whispered the host. "Look in that direction; over there that commander of ten policemen is finishing a goose, an excellent young goose, which I myself would have eaten gladly. But dost Thou know why, taking it from my own mouth, I gave that goose to him?"
"It was because the man came to inquire about thee."
When he said this, the Phoenician looked askance at the traveler, who did not lose calmness for an instant.