The Greek grew blue from rage, and strove to tear off his bonds.
"Yes!" cried he, "I killed the whelp, for I could not find the wolf, his father, may heaven's blazes burn him!"
"In what has the prince offended thee, criminal?" asked the indignant
Sem.
"In what? He seized from me Kama, and plunged her into a disease for which there is no remedy. I was free, I might have fled with life and property, but I resolved to avenge myself, and now ye have me. It was his luck that your gods are mightier than my hatred. Now ye may kill me; the sooner ye do so, the better."
"This is a great criminal," said Sem.
Mefres was silent and gazed into the Greek's eyes, which were burning with rage. He admired his courage, and fell to thinking. All at once he said to the chief,
"Worthy sir, Thou mayst go, this man belongs to us."
"This man," replied the chief, who was indignant, "belongs to me. I seized him and I shall receive a reward from Prince Ramses."
Mefres rose and drew forth from under his mantle a gold medal.
"In the name of the supreme council, of which I am a member," said he, "I command thee to yield this man to us. Remember that his existence is among the highest state secrets, and indeed it would be a hundred times better for thee to forget that Thou hast left him here."