On the tenth night, sailing with the wind, we reached the mighty city of Alexandria, the city of a thousand lights.  Above them all towered the white Pharos, that wonder of the world, from the crown of which a light like the light of the sun blazed out across the waters of the harbour to guide mariners on their way across the sea.  The vessel having been cautiously made fast to the quay, for it was night, I disembarked and stood wondering at the vast mass of houses, and confused by the clamour of many tongues.  For here all peoples seemed to be gathered together, each speaking after the fashion of his own land.  And as I stood a young man came and touched me on the shoulder, asking me if I was from Abouthis and named Harmachis.  I said “Yea.”  Then, bending over me, he whispered the secret pass-word into my ear, and, beckoning to two slaves, bade them bring my baggage from the ship.  This they did, fighting their way through the crowd of porters who were clamouring for hire.  Then I followed him down the quay, which was bordered with drinking-places, where all sorts of men were gathered, tippling wine and watching the dancing of women, some of whom were but scantily arrayed, and some not arrayed at all.

And so we went through the lamp-lit houses till at last we reached the shore of the great harbour, and turned to the right along a wide way paved with granite and bordered by strong houses, having cloisters in front of them, the like of which I had never seen.  Turning once more to the right we came to a quieter portion of the city, where, except for parties of strolling revellers, the streets were still.  Presently my guide halted at a house built of white stone.  We passed in, and, crossing a small courtyard, entered a chamber where there was a light.  And here, at last, I found my uncle Sepa, most glad to see me safe.

When I had washed and eaten, he told me that all things went well, and that as yet there was no thought of evil at the Court.  Further, he said, it having come to the ears of the Queen that the Priest of Annu was sojourning at Alexandria, she sent for him and closely questioned him—­not as to any plot, for of that she never thought, but as to the rumour which had reached her, that there was treasure hid in the Great Pyramid which is by Annu.  For, being ever wasteful, she was ever in want of money, and had bethought her of opening the Pyramid.  But he laughed at her, telling her the Pyramid was the burying-place of the divine Khufu, and that he knew nothing of its secrets.  Then she was angered, and swore that so surely as she ruled in Egypt she would tear it down, stone by stone, and discover the secret at its heart.  Again he laughed, and, in the words of the proverb which they have at Alexandria, told her that “Mountains live longer than Kings.”  Thereon she smiled at his ready answer, and let him go.  Also my uncle Sepa told me that on the morrow I should see this Cleopatra.  For it was her birthday (as, indeed, it was also mine), and, dressed in the robes of the Holy Isis, she would pass in state from her palace on the Lochias to the Serapeum to offer a sacrifice at the Shrine of the false God who sits in the Temple.  And he said that thereafter the fashion by which I should gain entrance to the household of the Queen should be contrived.