Decidedly that trouble last night has quickened
your wits. Be so good as to stop wriggling your shoulders, will you,
it makes me nervous, and I wish that you would have that eye of yours
painted. You know that I cannot bear the sight of black; it reminds
me, who am by nature joyous and light-hearted as a child, of melancholy
things. Now forge a letter for my, or rather for your signature,
promising the reversion of Pearl-Maiden to this Demetrius. Then bear
my greetings to Titus, begging his signature to an order granting
the desired privileges to one Caleb, a Jew who fought against him at
Jerusalem--with less success than I could have wished--whom I desire to
favour."
Three hours later Saturius presented himself for the second time in the
office of the Alexandrian merchant.
"Most worthy Demetrius," he said, "I congratulate you. Everything has
been arranged as you wish. Here is the order, signed by Titus and duly
witnessed, granting to you--I mean to your friend, Caleb--pardon for
whatever he may have done in Judaea, and permission to live and trade
anywhere that he may wish within the bounds of the Empire. I may tell
you that it was obtained with great difficulty, since Titus, worn out
with toil and glory, leaves this very day for his villa by the sea,
where he is ordered by his physicians to rest three months, taking no
part whatever in affairs.
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