Yesterday afternoon, as I was engaged with a party of nobles fishing in the Lake Amense, which I have before described as almost a sea in extent, and bordered by palaces, a galley, rowed by twenty-four oars, was seen coming towards us at great speed. Upon seeing it, one said:
"It is a royal barge!"
"Nay," said another, "it is that of the old Admiral Pathromenes. His sails are blue and white."
"I do not heed the color of his sails," said the first lord. "Seest thou not that it is the queen's galley, by the golden hawk's-head at the mast, and the cartouch of the Pharaohs above the poop?"
"It is the queen's galley," I said, "for I have frequently been in it, and recognize its symbols."
Hereupon there was manifested a general curiosity to know why it was coming so swiftly towards us. In a few minutes I discovered my Hebrew page, Israelisis, (for I have Egyptianized his name since he came into my service), upon the deck, and began to suspect the queen had sent him for me. I was not mistaken. The galley came sweeping round us with a roar of spray from its dashing oars, and the page, springing lightly upon the bulwarks of our vessel, with a low obeisance presented me the queen's signet, saying:
"The queen has sent for thee, my lord!"
The party of nobles expressed great reluctance at parting with me, and one of them said:
"You are in great favor with our royal house, O prince."
"Only as a guest and stranger," I answered, smiling.