s-by,
which several times endangered his personal safety; till at last
Philammon, hurrying breathlessly home, rushed into his arms.

'Hush! Hither with me! Your star still prospers. She calls for you.'

'Who?'

'Miriam herself. Be secret as the grave. You she will see and speak
with. The message of Arsenius she rejected in language which it is
unnecessary for philosophic lips to repeat. Come; but give her good
words-as are fit to an enchantress who can stay the stars in their
courses, and command the spirits of the third heaven.'

Philammon hurried home with Eudaimon. Little cared he now for Hypatia's
warning against Miriam.... Was he not in search of a sister?

'So' you wretch, you are back again!' cried one of the girls, as they
knocked at the outer door of Miriam's apartments. 'What do you mean by
bringing young men here at this time of night?'

'Better go down, and beg pardon of that poor wife of yours. She has
been weeping and praying for you to her crucifix all the evening, you
ungrateful little ape!'

'Female superstitions--but I forgive her. Peace, barbarian women!
I bring this youthful philosopher hither by your mistress's own
appointment.'

'He must wait, then, in the ante-room. There is a gentleman with my
mistress at present.'

So Philammon waited in a dark, dingy ante-room, luxuriously furnished
with faded tapestry, and divans which lined the walls; and fretted and
fidgeted, while the two girls watched him over their embroidery out of
the corners of their eyes, and agreed that he was a very stupid person
for showing no inclination to return their languishing glances.

In the meanwhile, Miriam, within, was listening, with a smile of grim
delight, to a swarthy and weather-beaten young Jew.

'I knew, mother in Israel, that all depended on my pace; and night
and day I rode from Ostia toward Tarentum: but the messenger of the
uncircumcised was better mounted than I; I therefore bribed a certain
slave to lame his horse, and passed him by a whole stage on the second
day. Nevertheless, by night the Philistine had caught me up again, the
evil angels helping him; and my soul was mad within me.'

'And what then, Jonadab Bar-Zebudah?'

'I bethought me of Ehud, and of Joab also, when he was pursued by
Asahel, and considered much of the lawfulness of the deed, not being
a man of blood. Nevertheless, we were together in the darkness, and I
smote him.'

Miriam clapped her hands.

'Then putting on his cl