"But if before morning I think out nothing?"
"I will visit Sargon in every case, and try to efface that little accident from his memory."
The priest took farewell of Ramses with marks of respect. On the way home, he pondered.
"I will let the heart be torn out of my breast," thought he, "if the prince had to do with that business. He neither beat Sargon, nor persuaded another to beat him; he did not even know of the incident. Whoso judges an affair with such coolness and so pointedly cannot be a confederate. In that case I can begin an investigation, and if we do not mollify the shaggy barbarian I will deliver the disturbers to justice. Beautiful treaty of friendship between two states, which begins by insulting the ambassador!"
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."