"Father," said Fide-Tadda, kneeling before Hieyas, "I swear to fulfil your wishes to the letter."
"Good, my child; but send for the doctor," said Hieyas, who breathed laboriously, exhausted by his long discourse.
The doctor was brought.
"Illustrious scholar," said Hieyas, looking fixedly at him, "am I very ill?"
"No, master," said the doctor, with some hesitation.
"I command you to speak nothing but the truth. Am I very ill?
"Yes," said the physician.
"In danger of death?"
"Not yet; but the life of fatigue which you lead may hasten your end."
"Could I live to see the end of the war which I am undertaking, supposing that it should last six moons?"