Not even
that Archelaus Menas, the sculptor, died for having angered thee; nor
that Julius Campanius perished in exile and young Decretas in fetters,
because of thine enmity. Thou seest that--though somewhat of a stranger
in Rome--I know much of its secret history, and though mine eyes had
until now never beheld thy loveliness, yet had mine ears heard much of
thy power."

"Yet at its first encounter thou didst defy it."

"I have no mother to mourn o'er my death like young Decretas," he said
curtly, "nor yet a wife to make into a sorrowing widow like the sculptor
Menas."

If it was his desire to break through the barrier of well-nigh insolent
calm which she seemed to have set round her dainty person, then he
succeeded over well, for she winced at his words like one who has
received a blow and her eyes, dark with anger, narrowed until they
became mere slits fringed by her golden lashes.

"But thou hast a life, Taurus Antinor," she said, "and life is a
precious possession."

He shrugged his massive shoulders, and a curious smile played round his
lips.

"And thou canst order that precious possession to be taken from me," he
said lightly. "Is that what thou wouldst say?"

"That and more, for thou hast other precious treasures more precious,
mayhap, than life; so guard them well, O Taurus Antinor!"

"Nay, gracious lady," he rejoined, still smiling, "I have but one soul
as I have one life, and that too is in the hands of God."

"Of which god?" she asked quaintly.

He did not reply but pointed upwards at the vivid dome of blue against
which the white of Phrygian marbles glittered in the sun.

"Of Him Whose Empire is mightier than that of Rome."

She looked on him in astonishment. Apparently she did not understand
him, nor did he try to explain, but it seemed to her as if his whole
appearance had changed suddenly, and her thoughts flew back to that
which she had witnessed a year ago when she was in Ostia and she had
seen a raging tempest become suddenly stilled. "There is no mightier
empire than that of Rome," she said proudly, "and methinks thou art a
traitor, oh Taurus Antinor, else thou wouldst not speak of any emperor
save of Caesar, my kinsman."

"I spoke not of an emperor, gracious lady," he said simply.

"But thy thoughts were of one whose empire was mightier than that of
Rome."

"My thoughts," he said, "were of a Man Whom I saw whilst travelling
through Judaea a few years ago. He was poor and dwelt am