"How swift art thou?" he asked.
"So swift that my service is desired beyond mine opportunities to accept," was the answer.
"How is it that thou art ready to serve me? Thou seest my plight."
"The jailer spoke of thee as petitioning the Pharaoh. The king is in the north where I have not been in all the reign of Meneptah. Thou offerest me a pleasure and the fee shall be in proportion to the length of the journey."
"Nay, but thou art a genius. Thou dost move me to imitate the Hathors, since they add fortune to the already fortunate. Mark me. I will give thee thy fee now. If thou dost return me a letter showing that thou hast carried the message with all faith and speed, I shall give thee another fee on thy home-coming. What thinkest thou?"
The man smiled and nodded. "Naught but the darts of Amenti shall delay me."
Kenkenes gave him the message, and a handful of rings. The man expressed his thanks, after which he went forth, and the door was barred.
Kenkenes stood for a while, motionless before the tightly fitted portal of stone. Then through the high crevice that was his window the sounds of life outside smote upon his ear. The noise of the city seemed to become all revel. Some one under the walls laughed—the hearty, raucous laugh of the care-free boor.
He turned about and flung himself face down in the straw of his pallet.
He had begun to wait.