"
"Pardon me, lady," answered Nehushta, "but speak for yourself. I never
fell into any temptation--from a man. I know too much of men."
"Then, friend," replied Julia, "return thanks for the good armour of
your wisdom. For my part, I say that, like the lord Marcus, this maid
has acted well, and my prayer is that she also may not lose her reward."
"Mine is," commented Nehushta, "that Marcus may escape the payment which
he will doubtless receive from the hand of Domitian if he can hunt him
out," a remark at which the face of Miriam grew very troubled.
Just then Gallus returned, and to him the whole history had to be told
anew.
"It is wonderful," he said, "wonderful! I never heard the like of it.
Two people who love each other and who, when their hour comes, separate
over some question of faith, or rather in obedience to a command laid
upon one of them by a lady who died years and years ago. Wonderful--and
I hope wise, though had I been the man concerned I should have taken
another counsel."
"What counsel, husband?" asked Julia.
"Well--to get away from Rome with the lady as far as possible, and
without more delay than was necessary. It seems to me that under the
circumstances it would have been best for her to consider her scruples
in another land.
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