en column of some old temple and
rested. Suddenly they heard a footstep, and Miriam looked up to see
before her a Roman officer, clad in a cloak that showed signs of
sea-travel, and, guiding him, one of Benoni's servants.

The officer, a rough but kindly looking man of middle age, bowed to her,
asking in Greek if he spoke to the lady Miriam, the granddaughter of
Benoni the Jew, she who had been brought up among the Essenes.

"Sir, I am she," answered Miriam.

"Then, lady, I, who am named Gallus, have an errand to perform"; and
drawing from his robe a letter tied with silk and sealed, and with the
letter a package, he handed them to her.

"Who sends these?" she asked, hope shining in her eyes, "and whence come
they?"

"From Rome, lady, as fast as sails could waft them and me. And the
sender is the noble Marcus, called the Fortunate."

"Oh!" said Miriam, blushing to her eyes, "tell me, sir, is he well?"

"Not so well but that such a look as that, lady, would better him, or
any other man, could he be here to see it," answered the Roman, gazing
at her with admiration.

"Did you then leave him ill? I do not understand."

"Nay, his health seemed sound, and his uncle Caius being dead his wealth
can scarce be counted, or so they say, since the old man made him his
heir. Perhaps that is why the divine Nero has taken such a fancy to him
that he can scarce leave the palace. Therefore I cannot say that Marcus
is well to-day, since sometimes Nero's friends are short-lived. Nay,
be not frightened, I did but jest; your Marcus is safe enough. Read the
letter, lady, and waste no time. As for me, my mission is fulfilled.
Thank me not; it is reward enough to have seen that sweet face of yours.
Fortunate indeed is the star of Marcus, and, though I am jealous of
the man, for your sake I pray that it may lead him back to you. Lady,
farewell."

"Cut the silk, Nou," said Miriam when the Captain Gallus had gone.
"Quick. I have no knife."

Nehushta obeyed smiling and the letter was unrolled. It, or those parts
of it which concern us, ran thus:

"To the lady Miriam, from Marcus the Roman, her friend, by the hand of
the Captain Gallus.

"Dear friend and lady, greeting. Already since I came here I have
written you one letter, but this day news has reached me that the ship
which bore it foundered off the coast of Sicily. So, as Neptune has that
letter, and with it many good men, although I write more ill than I do
most things, I sen