You know, dear
Saturius, that I am not selfish, and to tell the truth, which you won't
mind between friends--who could be jealous of a wizened, last year's
walnut of a man like you? Not I, Saturius, not I, whom everybody
acknowledges to be the most beautiful person in Rome, much better
looking than Titus is, although he does call himself Caesar. Now for it.
Where's the fastening? Saturius, find the fastening. Why do you tie up
the poor girl like an Egyptian corpse and prevent her lord and master
from looking at her?"
As he spoke the slave did something to the back of her head and the
veil fell to the ground, revealing a girl of very pleasing shape and
countenance, but who, as might be expected, looked most weary and
frightened. Domitian stared at her with his bleared and wicked eyes,
while a puzzled expression grew upon his face.
"Very odd!" he said, "but she seems to have changed! I thought her eyes
were blue, and that she had curling black hair. Now they are dark and
she has straight hair. Where's the necklace, too? Where's the necklace?
Pearl-Maiden, what have you done with your necklace? Yes, and why didn't
you wear the girdle I sent you to-day?"
"Sir," answered the Jewess, "I never had a necklace----"
"My lord Domitian," began Saturius with a nervous laugh, "there is a
mistake--I must explain.
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