general, Amru. The Moslem conquerors had found him a ready and judicious
mediator; while his fellow-Christians and country-men obeyed him as being
the noblest and wealthiest of their race and the descendant of ancestors
who had enjoyed high distinction even under the Pharaohs.

Only the governor's residence was Greek--or rather Alexandrian-in style;
the court-yards and out-buildings on the contrary, looked as though
they belonged to some Oriental magnate-to some Erpaha (or prince of a
province) as the Mukaukas' forefathers had been called, a rank which
commanded respect both at court and among the populace.

The dragoman had not told the merchant too much beforehand of the
governor's possessions: he had vast estates, in both Upper and Lower
Egypt, tilled by thousands of slaves under numerous overseers. Here in
Memphis was the centre of administration of his property, and besides the
offices for his private affairs were those he needed as a state official.

Well-kept quays, and the wide road running along the harbor side, divided
his large domain from the river, and a street ran along the wall which
enclosed it on the north. On this side was the great gate, always wide
open by day, by which servants or persons on business-errands made their
entrance; the other gate, a handsome portal with Corinthian columns
opening from the Nile-quay, was that by which the waterparty had returned
the evening before. This was kept closed, and only opened for the
family, or for guests and distinguished visitors. There was a guardhouse
at the north gate with a small detachment of Egyptian soldiers, who were
entrusted with the protection of the Mukaukas' person.

As soon as the refreshing evening breeze came up from the river after the
heat of the day there was a stir in the great court-yard. Men, women and