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At the gate they were received as Darius had foretold. The guards,
who had no suspicion that they came for any ill purpose, and held the
chief Persians in much reverence, let them pass without difficulty -
it seemed as if they were under the special protection of the gods -
none even asked them any question. When they were now in the great
court they fell in with certain of the eunuchs, whose business it was
to carry the king's messages, who stopped them and asked what they
wanted, while at the same time they threatened the doorkeepers for
having let them enter. The seven sought to press on, but the eunuchs
would not suffer them. Then these men, with cheers encouraging one
another, drew their daggers, and stabbing those who strove to
withstand them, rushed forward to the apartment of the males.
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