"Remember my
soul may not be rejected for lack of gratitude."

Now in that hour which follows the beginning of night, Lugar and
Vergilius were come to the place appointed. Slaves led them through a
great hall to the banquet-chamber. There were the daughters of Laban,
reclining in graceful ease. The banquet-table had been removed. Now
they were taking their feast of old tales and new gossip. They rose
and came to meet the young men. Tunics of jewelled gauze covered
without concealing forms lovely as the sculptures of immortal Greece
and redolent of all rare perfumes.

"And you would see a maidens' frolic?" said one to Vergilius.

Then said he: "Maidens are ever a delight to me."

"Ay, they make you to forget," said the girl.

He thought a moment before answering. "It may be true," said he. "But
they keep you in mind of the power of woman."

Strains of the lyre broke in upon them. Suddenly the centre of the
great room was thronged with maidens. The young tribune was full of
wonder, knowing not whence they had come. There was a wreath of roses
on each brow, and as they gathered in even rank with varicolored robes
upon them, they reminded the knight of garden walls in Velitrae.
Quickly they began to mingle, with feet tripping lightly, with bodies
bending to display their charms. Threadlike, wavering gleams of ruby,
pearl, and sapphire seemed to weave a net upon them. Such a scene
appealed to the love of beauty in Vergilius. It awoke dying but
delightful memories of the pagan capital--splendors of form and color,
glowing eyes and pretty frolic.

"O Venus, mother of love!" he whispered, turning to admire a statue in
the dim-lit corner where he stood. Now the eyes of Venus were covered
with an arm. Out went his hand to feel the shapely marble. It was
warm, and slowly Venus began to move, as did the strains of music, and,
presently, whirled away.

"How beautiful!" he said. "'Tis the magic of a dream."

His eyes were upon the form of Venus, taller than the others and more
nobly fashioned.

"'Tis the great goddess come to earth," said he, turning to Lugar.

The music had ceased. The maidens, save two, had flung themselves upon
rugs and couches. Venus and another were approaching the Roman.

"Daughter of Herod," said he, going to meet her, "I knew you not."

She took his arm and led him to one of the couches.

"You are very stubborn," said she, looking into his eyes. "You had
'business.'"