"And why did they join them?" the king asked.
"Because their salary was not paid in time."
"And why was it not paid?"
"At the prince Viceroy's orders."
The king looked at Tuta.
"Why did you do it?"
"I have laid the king's yoke upon my neck and here I bear it," Tuta began, wondering what kind of answer he had better give: he understood that someone had informed against him. "If I go up to heaven or come down to earth my life is always in thy right hand, O King! I look here and I look there and I see no light; I look upon thee, my king, my sun, and behold, here is light! A brick may move from under other bricks in a wall but I shall not move from under the feet of my king, my god...."
"Make haste and tell me why you did it," the king interrupted him impatiently.
"There was no money to buy bread for the starving and so I borrowed it from the Lybians' salary."
The king said nothing, but gave him such a look that Tuta lowered his eyes.