"
Three minutes later, under the guidance of the clerk, who was as
discreet as his master, they had passed, quite undisturbed, through
various dark colonnades and up a flight of marble stairs.
"Now you are out of the Forum, so go your ways," he said.
They went, and the clerk stood watching them until they were round
a corner, for he was young and curious, and to him this seemed the
strangest comedy of the slave-market of which he had ever even heard.
As he turned to go he found himself face to face with a tall man, in
whom he recognized that merchant of Egypt who had bid for Pearl-Maiden
up to the enormous total of fourteen hundred sestertia.
"Friend," said Demetrius, "which way did your companions go?"
"I don't know," answered the clerk.
"Come, try to remember. Did they walk straight on, or turn to the left,
or turn to the right? Fix your attention on these, it may help you," and
once more that fortunate clerk found five gold pieces thrust into his
hand.
"I don't know that they help me," he said, for he wished to be faithful
to his hire.
"Fool," said Demetrius in a changed voice, "remember quickly, or here
is something that will----" and he showed him a dagger glinting in his
hand.
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