Mena affected to wipe tears from his eyes as he told of his master's end.
"It is a lie!" the old nurse screamed, from among the slaves clustered in the back of the hall. They tried to stifle her voice, but Alexander commanded her to come forward.
"What happened?" he asked briefly.
The old woman sank upon her knees and raised her hands in supplication.
"I was his nurse," she said, in her cracked and broken voice. "They brought him wounded to this door, and Mena—this man here—would not permit him to enter. He was not always kind to me, but I loved him; for how often when he was little have I held him in my arms! So I stole away and brought him in by another door, thinking to save him, for he was so weak from his wound. And then Mena stabbed him, and he died. Vengeance, O king; thou art strong!"
"Thou shalt have it," Alexander said sternly. "Is this true, dog?"
Mena tried to deny, but he could not speak. His face turned ashen.
"I promised this man that he should be crucified," Thais said softly.
"Then let it be done now," Alexander said.
He motioned to his guard, who seized the Egyptian and held him fast. "Were others concerned in this?" he demanded of the nurse.