This
Septimus promised to do readily enough by a certain day, believing that
the gold was needed for his master's ransom. Then having settled all as
well as might be, Cyril took up his tale and preached to Marcus of the
Saviour of the world with great earnestness and power.
Thus the days went on, and twice or thrice in every week Cyril visited
Marcus, giving him tidings and instructing him in the Faith. Now the
ship _Luna_ was bought and the most of her crew hired; also a cargo of
such goods as would be salable in Syria was being laid into her hold at
Ostia, the Greek, Hector, giving it out that this was a private venture
of his own and some other merchants. As the man was well known for
a bold trader who had bought and sold in many lands his tale caused
neither wonder nor suspicion, none knowing that the capital was
furnished by the steward of the prisoner Marcus through him who passed
as the master craftsman and contractor Septimus. Indeed, until the after
days Miriam did not know this herself, for it was kept from her by the
special command of Marcus, and if Nehushta guessed the truth she held
her tongue.
Two full months had gone by. Marcus still languished in prison, for
Titus had not yet returned to Rome, but as he learned from Cyril,
Domitian wearied somewhat of his fruitless search for Miriam, although
he still vowed vengeance against the rival who had robbed him.
Pages:
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533