race that have been giving Titus so much trouble. Young
as they are, they seem to have been fighting, for both of them are
marked with several scars."

"I dare say they will do," the lady said. "The Jews are said to
understand the culture of the vine and fig better than other
people, so they are probably accustomed to garden work."

The Roman clapped his hands, and a slave at once appeared.

"Send Philo here."

A minute later a Greek appeared.

"Philo, here are two slaves I have brought from the market. They
are for work in the garden. See that they do it, and let me know
how things go on. We shall know how to treat them, if they are
troublesome."

Philo at once led the two new slaves to the shed, at a short
distance from the house, where the slaves employed out of doors
lodged.

"Do you speak Greek?" he asked.

"As well as my native language," John replied.

"My lord Tibellus is a just and good master," Philo said, "and you
are fortunate in having fallen into his hands. He expects his
slaves to work their best and, if they do so, he treats them well;
but disobedience and laziness he punishes, severely. He is an
officer of high rank in the government of the city. As you may not
know the country, I warn you against thinking of escape. The Lake
of Mareotis well-nigh surrounds the back of the city and, beyond
the lake, the Roman authority extends for a vast distance, and none
would dare to conceal runaway slaves."

"We shall not attempt to escape," John said, quietly, "and are well
content that we have fallen in such good hands. I am accustomed to
work in a garden, but my companion has not had much experience at
such work; therefore, I pray you be patient with him, at first."

John had agreed with Jonas that, if they had the good fortune to be
sold to a Roman, they would not, for a time, say anything about the
ring. It was better, they thought, to wait until Titus returned to
Rome--which he would be sure to do, after the complete conquest of
Jerusalem. Even were they sent to him there, while he was still
full of wrath and bitterness against the Jews--for the heavy loss
that they had inflicted upon his army, and for the obstinacy which
compelled him to destroy the city which he would fain have
preserved, as a trophy of his victory--they might be less
favourably received than they would be after there had been some
time for the passions awakened by the strife to abate; especially
after the enjoyment of the tr