Why, the greatest sculptors, ancient or modern, would
rejoice to have her as model, and I hope that in the interests of the
art-loving public"--here he glanced at the Chamberlain, Saturius--"that
the fortunate person into whose hands she passes will not be so selfish
as to deny them this satisfaction.
"Now I have said enough and must but add this, that by the special
decree of her captor, the Imperator Titus, the beautiful necklace of
pearls worn by the maiden goes with her. I asked a jeweller friend of
mine to look at it just now, and judging as well as he could without
removing it from her neck, which was not allowed, he values it at least
at a hundred sestertia. Also, there goes with this lot considerable
property, situated in Tyre and neighbouring places, to which, had she
been a free woman, she would have succeeded by inheritance. You may
think that Tyre is a long way off and that it will be difficult to take
possession of this estate, and, of course, there is something in the
objection. Still, the title to it is secure enough, for here I have a
deed signed by Titus Caesar himself, commanding all officials, officers
and others concerned, to hand over without waste or deduction all
property, real or personal, belonging to the estate of the late Benoni,
the Jewish merchant of Tyre, and a member of the Sanhedrim--the lot's
grandfather, I am informed, gentleman--to her purchaser, who has only to
fill in his own name in the blank space, or any representatives whom he
may appoint, which deed is especially declared to be indefeasible.
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