CHAPTER VI.
THE sharp-witted Athenian saw clearly how matters lay in this sad story; nor did it escape him that malice had had a hand in the affair. How could Bartja's dagger have come into the hanging-gardens except through treachery?
While he was telling the king his suspicions, Oropastes was led into the hall.
The king looked angrily at him and without one preliminary word, asked:
"Have you a brother?"
"Yes, my King. He and I are the only two left out of a family of six.
My parents . . ."
"Is your brother younger or older than yourself?"
"I was the eldest of the family; my brother, the youngest, was the joy of my father's old age."
"Did you ever notice a remarkable likeness between him and one of my relations?"
"Yes, my King. Gaumata is so like your brother Bartja, that in the school for priests at Rhagae, where he still is, he was always called "the prince."
"Has he been at Babylon very lately?"