"Ere midday," Kenkenes added.
"I hear," the passive official assented.
The solid section of wall swung shut behind him and the great bolts shot into place.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE PETITION
Some time later the bar rattled down again, and the jailer stood without, a scribe at his side. At a sign from the jailer, the latter made as though to enter, but Kenkenes stopped him.
"I have need of your materials only," he said, "but the fee shall be yours nevertheless." The man set his case on the floor and Kenkenes put a ring of silver in the outstretched palm.
"Fail me not in a faithful messenger," the prisoner repeated to the jailer. The official nodded, and the door was closed again.
Kenkenes sat on the floor beside the case, laid the cover back and taking out materials, wrote thus:
"To my friend, the noble Hotep, greeting: