Well, I will take the risk, for if there is
anything wrong about these papers I am sure that the prince Domitian
would not like to see them exhibited in a court of law."
"Good," answered Saturius, with a relief which he could not altogether
conceal. "And now for the culprit's name."
"The culprit's name," said Caleb, leaning forward and speaking slowly,
"is Marcus, who served as one of Titus Caesar's prefects of horse in
the campaign of Judaea. He bought the lady Miriam, commonly known as
Pearl-Maiden, by the agency of Nehushta, an old Libyan woman, who
conveyed her to his house in the Via Agrippa, which is known as the
'Fortunate House,' where doubtless, she now is."
"Marcus," said Saturius. "Why, he was reported dead, and the matter of
the succession to his great estates is now being debated, for he was the
heir of his uncle, Caius, the pro-consul, who amassed a vast fortune
in Spain. Also after the death of the said Caius, this Marcus was a
favourite of the late divine Nero, who constituted him guardian of some
bust of which he was enamoured. In short, he is a great man, if, as
you say, he still lives, whom even Domitian will find it hard to meddle
with. But how do you know all this?"
"Through my friend Caleb.
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