For a moment Daphne shuddered, but by an effort she recovered her composure, and said: “To avoid death by the pestilence, willingly, with my eyes open, I surrendered myself to thee, although I did not know even thy name. I look on myself as already in the under-world. Nothing now will terrify me, for thy vaunted oath I believe no longer.”
The Egyptian replied, “The oath cannot be broken, and whatever I say to thee shall be free from deceit. But there are many things that I cannot tell thee: whatever I say shall be true, but neither can I tell thee everything, nor could thy mind at present bear it, any more than thy eyes could look straight at the sun. My country is in many ways different from Athens. My name is Thoth.”
At first Daphne was displeased to be treated like a child, but her curiosity was excited, and she began to ask questions. The answers, however, seemed for the most part to cause still greater mystery.
Suddenly she heard a cry of alarm from some of her companions. They too had awaked, and had come to join Daphne. Just as they came near, at the other end of the vessel two of the merchants appeared, and began to eye the maidens with the look of curious contempt which at first had alarmed Daphne. She turned to Thoth and said, “Why are these men so hateful in appearance? They fill me with dread, and terrify my companions.”
A look of displeasure crossed the face of the leader, and he said sternly, “This shall not be. I will compel them to honour whom I choose, and in a short time I will give thee an undoubted sign.”
CHAPTER V.
THE MIGHT OF CHANCE.
Thoth disappeared, and on his return said to Daphne, “It is necessary to encourage thy companions, and to show them that they have nothing to fear. They seem to dread my people, but I will make every man give them an undoubted sign of respect.”
Daphne informed her companions, and according to the request of Thoth, they stood in a line leaning on the side of the vessel. He then summoned his men, and they awaited his orders in an attitude of the most obsequious deference. Then Thoth advanced to Daphne, and taking her hand, said—
“Permit me to show thee honour.”
He bowed and lightly kissed her fingers. Then he turned to his companions, and choosing out the man whom he had struck in Athens, he said—