The people who thronged around Amer were not all of the same position of life. Some of them wore more costly garments than others, and their manner and conversation proved them to be superior in culture and intellect.
An enemy with whom Amer had had to do while staying in Achshaph, took advantage of this fact to tempt him.
"It will be to your advantage," he whispered, "to make much of these influential people."
Amer did not recognize the voice of the enemy, so his sword lay idle in its scabbard, and he began to pay more attention to the cultured pilgrims than to the humbler ones among them. But at times he felt uneasy, and certain words he had read in the Guide Book recurred again and again to his mind: "'My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.'"
"But," whispered the enemy, when he found Amer thinking of these words, "to be popular with these influential people means that you will attract a crowd to hear your good advice, and so it will help rather than hinder the King's work." And so, for awhile, Amer was noticed to spend much of his time with them, to the neglect of the poorer among the pilgrims, and so well did his enemies do their work, that he was quite unconscious that the Radiant City was growing dim to his eyes.
But the young girl who had stayed to succour the child was before long seen hurrying after him with a face full of joy.
"Oh how good it was of you," she cried to Amer, "to let me do that bit of work. The poor little boy was sick and suffering. As I tended him and tried to dry his tears, a bright angel came from the King to take him to the Radiant City; and," she added in a soft, awed tone of voice, "the angel gave me a message from the King."
"A message?" repeated Amer.
"Yes," said the girl softly, "a message straight from the King Himself."
"What was the message?"