es things from which she recoiled in unspeakable horror; but her
soul, still pure and still proud, was able to dissociate the abstract
idea of the holy and mighty Caesar from its present hideous embodiment.
And this same holy reverence for Caesar she looked for in all those who
she deemed were worthy to stand--not as his equals, for only the gods
were that--but nigh to his holy person--his own kinsmen first, then his
Senate, his magistrates, and his patricians, and above all this
man--almost a stranger--whom the Caesar had deigned to honour with his
confidence.

And yet this same stranger spoke calmly of another, of a man whom he
would obey as a slave in all things, whom he would follow even to death;
a man whose might he proclaimed above that of Caesar himself.

"But who is this man?" she exclaimed at last, almost involuntarily.

"A poor Man from Galilee," he replied.

"What is he called?"

"Out there they called Him Jesus of Nazareth."

"And where is he now?"

"He died upon the cross, in Jerusalem, seven years ago."

"Upon the cross?" she exclaimed; "what had he done?"

"He had dwelt among the poor and brought them contentment and peace; He
had lived amongst men and taught them love and charity. So the Roman
proconsul ordered Him to be crucified, and those whom He had rendered
happy rejoiced over His death."

"Methinks that I did hear something of this. I was a child then but
already I took much interest in the affairs of State, and my father
spoke oft freely in my presence. I remember his talking of a demagogue
over in Judaea who claimed to be the King of the Jews and who was
punished for treason and sedition. But I also heard that he did but
little mischief, since only a troop of ignorant fisher-folk followed and
listened to him."

"Ignorant fisher-folk thou saidst it truly, O Dea Flavia, yet I have it
in my mind that anon the knee of every patrician--aye! of every
Caesar--shall bend before the mighty throne of that Man from Galilee."

"And thus didst learn thy lesson of treason, O praefect," she retorted;
"demagogues and traitors from Judaea have sown the seeds of treachery in
thy mind, and whilst thou dost receive with both hands the gifts of the
Caesar my kinsman, thou dost set up another above him and dost homage to
him in thy heart."

"Aye! in my heart, gracious lady; for I am even more ignorant than those
fishermen from Galilee who heard every word spoken by Jesus of Nazareth.
I heard Him but t