"Thine eyes flash, Psamtik! that pleaseth me not. The Athenian must die, for he has offended the gods; but though he that condemns must let justice have her way, he should have no pleasure in the death of the condemned; rather should he mourn. Now speak; didst thou obtain aught further?"
"The king declared unto me to what house Nitetis belongs."
"And further naught?"
"No, my father; but art thou not eager to learn … ?"
"Curiosity is a woman's vice; moreover, I have long known all that thou canst tell me."
"But didst thou not charge me but yesterday to ask my father this question?"
"I did do so to prove thee, and know whether thou wert resigned to the Divine will, and wert walking in those ways wherein alone thou canst become worthy of initiation into the highest grade of knowledge. Thou hast told us faithfully all that thou hast heard, and thereby proved that thou canst obey—the first virtue of a priest."
"Thou knewest then the father of Nitetis?"
"I myself pronounced the prayer over king Hophra's tomb."
"But who imparted the secret to thee?"