"
"I am in deep waters, but I think that I can swim well," reflected Caleb
as the door closed behind his visitor. "At any rate it gives me a chance
who have no other, and that prince is playing for revenge, not love.
What can Miriam be to him beyond the fancy of an hour, of which a thief
has robbed him? Doubtless he wishes to kill the thief, but kings do not
care for faded roses, which are only good enough to weave the chaplet of
a merchant of Alexandria. So I cast for the last time, let the dice fall
as it is fated."
Very shortly afterwards in the palace of Domitian the dice began to
fall. Humbly, most humbly, did that faithful chamberlain, Saturius,
lay the results of his mission before his august master, Domitian,
who suffering from a severe bilious attack that had turned his ruddy
complexion to a dingy yellow, and made the aspect of his pale eyes more
unpleasant than usual, was propped up among cushions, sniffing attar of
roses and dabbing vinegar water upon his forehead.
He listened indifferently to the tale of his jackal, until the full
meaning of the terms asked by the mysterious Eastern merchant penetrated
his sodden brain.
"Why," he said, "the man wants Pearl-Maiden; that's his share, while
mine is the life of the fellow who bought her, whoever he may be.
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