"Now," went on Saturius, "I must be going, for there are one or two
little things which need attention, and time presses. Shall we balance
that account, friend Demetrius?"
"Certainly," said Caleb, and taking a roll of gold from a drawer he
pushed it across the table.
Saturius shook his head sadly. "I laid it at twice as much," he said.
"Think how you hate him and how richly your hate will be fed. First
disgraced unjustly, he, one of the best soldiers and bravest captains in
the army, and then hacked to death by cutthroats in the doorway of his
own house. What more could you want?"
"Nothing," answered Caleb. "Only the man isn't dead yet. Sometimes the
Fates have strange surprises for us mortals, friend Saturius."
"Dead? He will be dead soon enough."
"Good. You shall have the rest of the money when I have seen his body.
No, I don't want any bungling and that's the best way to make certain."
"I wonder," thought Saturius, as he departed out of the office and
this history, "I wonder how I shall manage to get the balance of my
fee before they have my Jewish friend by the heels. But it can be
arranged--doubtless it can be arranged."
When he had gone, Caleb, who, it would seem, also had things which
needed attention and felt that time pressed, took pen and wrote a short
letter.
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