ice of the Alexandrians had
reached above his horse's knees. The number of the dead, he declared
with sickening pride, was above a hundred thousand, as estimated by the
prefect.

"Then we will call it eleven myriad," Caracalla broke in. "Now, we have
had enough of the dead. Bring in the living."

"Whom?" asked the Egyptian, in surprise. Hereupon Caesar's eyelids began
to quiver, and in a threatening tone he reminded his bloody-handed tool
of those whom he had ordered him to take alive. Still Zminis was silent,
and Caesar furiously shrieked his demand as to whether by his blundering
Heron's daughter had escaped; whether he could not produce the
gem-cutter and his son. The blood-stained butcher then perceived that
Caesar's murderous sword might be turned against him also. Still, he was
prepared to defend himself by every means in his power. His brain was
inventive, and, seeing that the fault for which he would least easily be
forgiven was the failure to capture Melissa, he tried to screen himself
by a lie. Relying on an incident which he himself had witnessed, he
began: "I felt certain of securing the gem-cutter's pretty daughter, for
my men had surrounded his house. But it had come to the ears of these
Alexandrian scoundrels that a son of Heron's, a painter, and his sister,
had betrayed their fellow-citizens and excited your wrath. It was to
them that they ascribed the punishment which I executed upon them in
your name. This rabble have no notion of reflection; before we could
hinder them they had rushed on the innocent dwelling. They flung
fire-brands into it, burned it, and tore it down. Any one who was within
perished, and thus the daughter of Heron died. That is, unfortunately,
proved. I can take the old man and his son tomorrow. To-day I have had
so much to do that there has not been time to bind the sheaves. It is
said that they had escaped before the mob rushed on the house."

"And the gem-cutter's daughter?" asked Caracalla, in a trembling voice.
"You are sure she was burned in the building?"

"As sure as that I have zealously endeavored to let the Alexandrians
feel your avenging hand," replied the Egyptian resolutely, and with a
bold face he confirmed his he. "I have here the jewel she wore on her
arm. It was found on the charred body in the cellar. Adventus, your
chamberlain, says that Melissa received it yesterday as a gift from you.
Here it is."

And he handed Caracalla the serpent-shaped bracelet which