Afterwards you can talk."
It was mid-day. Marcus, bathed, anointed, and clad in the robes of his
order, was standing in one of the splendid apartments of his marble
house, looking through an opening in the shutters at the passing of the
Triumph. Presently old Nehushta joined him. She also was clad in clean,
white robes which the slave woman had found for her.
"Have you any news?" asked Marcus impatiently.
"Some, lord, which I have pieced together from what is known by the
slave-woman, and by your steward, Stephanus. A beautiful Jewish captive
is to walk in the Triumph and afterwards to be sold with other captives
in the Forum. They heard of her because it is said that there has been
a quarrel between Titus and his brother Domitian, and Vespasian also, on
account of this woman."
"A quarrel? What quarrel?"
"I, or rather your servants, know little of it, but they have heard that
Domitian demanded the girl as a gift, whereon Titus told him that if
he wished for her, he might buy her. Then the matter was referred to
Vespasian Caesar, who upheld the decree of Titus. As for Domitian, he
went away in a rage, declaring that he would purchase the girl and
remember the affront which had been put upon him.
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