Have I not the great
Glaucus for a friend--until I show him this work of yours?"
"If you will, sir, be seated on that stool and be pleased to look
towards me."
"I am your servant," said Marcus, in a cheerful voice; and the sitting
began.
CHAPTER VIII
MARCUS AND CALEB
On the morrow, as he had promised, Ithiel brought this question
of whether or no Miriam was to be allowed to execute a bust of the
centurion, Marcus, before the Court of the Curators of the Essenes, who
were accustomed thus to consider questions connected with their ward's
welfare in solemn conclave. There was a division of opinion. Some of
them saw no harm; others, more strait-laced, held that it was scarcely
correct that a Roman whose principles, doubtless, were lax, should be
allowed to sit to the lady whom they fondly called their child. Indeed,
it seemed dubious whether the leave would be given, until a curator,
with more worldly wisdom than the rest, suggested that as the captain
seemed desirous of having his picture taken in stone, under the
circumstances of his visit, which included a commission to make a
general report upon their society to the authorities, it might be
scarcely wise to deny his wish. Finally, a compromise was effected.
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