“In the name of the Great King, greeting, my lord Shabaka!
“In the name of the Great King, greeting!” I answered. “What would you with Shabaka, Officer of the King?”
“Only to do him honour. The word of the King has reached us and we come to escort you to the Court of Idernes, the Satrap of the King and Governor of Egypt who sits at Sais.”
“That is not my road, Officer. I travel to Memphis to deliver the commands of the King to my cousin, Peroa, the ruler of Egypt under the King. Afterwards, perchance, I shall visit the high Idernes.”
“To whom our commands are to take you now, my lord Shabaka, not afterwards,” said the officer sternly, glancing round at his armed escort.
“I come to give commands, not to receive them, Captain of the King.”
“Seize Shabaka and his servants,” said the officer briefly, whereon the soldiers rode forward to surround us.
I waited till they were near at hand. Then suddenly I plunged my hand beneath my robe and drew out the small, white seal which I held before the eyes of the officer, saying,
“Who is it that dares to lay a finger upon the holder of the King’s White Seal? Surely that man is ready for death.”
The officer stared at it, then leapt from his horse and flung himself face downwards on the ground, crying,