One of the sleepers stirred at the noise and turned over. Presently he
sat up.
Kenkenes righted the stool and sat down on it, the light shining in his
face. He saw the guest in the shadow shake off the light covering and
walk swiftly through the door into the outer chamber.
Meanwhile the silent woman served her guest with cold baked water-fowl,
endives, cucumbers, wheat bread and grapes, and a weak white wine.
Kenkenes ate deliberately, and consumed all that was set before him.
When he had made an end, he paid his reckoning to the woman and
returned into the outer chamber.
At the doors, he was confronted by four members of the city
constabulary and a Nubian in a striped tunic.
"Seize him!" the Nubian cried. Instantly the four men flung themselves
upon Kenkenes and pinioned his arms.
"Nay, by the gods," he exclaimed angrily. "What mean you?"
"Parley not with him," the Nubian said in excitement. "Get him in
bonds stronger than the grip of hands. He is muscled like a bull."
The young sculptor looked at the Nubian. He had seen him before--had
had unpleasant dealings with him. And then he remembered, so suddenly
and so fiercely that his captors felt the sinews creep in his arms.
Pages:
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377