We called her Pearl-Maiden because of a
collar of pearls she wore and because also she was white and beautiful
as a pearl. Oh! beautiful indeed, and so gentle and sweet, even in her
sickness, that the roughest brute of a legionary with a broken head
could not choose but to love her. Much more then, that old bear, Gallus,
who watched her as though she were his own cub."
"Indeed? And where is this beautiful lady now? I should like to sell her
something."
"Gone, gone, and left us all mourning."
"Not dead?" said Caleb in a new voice of eager dismay, "Oh! not dead?"
The fat cook looked at him calmly.
"You take a strange interest in our Pearl-Maiden, Cabbage-seller," he
said. "And, now that I come to think of it, you are a strange-looking
man for a peasant."
With an effort Caleb recovered his self-command.
"Once I was better off than I am now, friend," he answered. "As you
know, in this country the wheel of fortune has turned rather quick of
late."
"Yes, yes, and left many crushed flat behind it."
"The reason why I am interested," went on Caleb, taking no heed, "is
that I may have lost a fine market for my goods."
"Well, and so you have, friend. Some days ago the Pearl-Maiden departed
to Tyre in charge of the captain, Gallus, on her way to Rome.
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