d to present themselves and worship it and the soul of her by
whom it was fashioned. Moreover, it was commanded that I, Marcus, whose
features had served as a model for the work, should be its guardian and
attend twice weekly in the temple, that all might see how the genius of
a great artist is able to make a thing of immortal beauty from a coarse
original of flesh and blood. Oh, Miriam, I have no patience to write of
this folly, yet the end of it is, that except at the cost of my fortune
and the risk of my life, it is impossible for me to leave Rome. Twice
every week, or by special favour, once only, must I attend in that
accursed temple where my own likeness stands upon a pedestal of marble,
and before it a marble altar, on which are cut the words: 'Sacrifice, O
passer-by, to the spirit of the departed genius who wrought this divine
work.'

"Yes, there I sit, I who am a soldier, while fools come in and gaze
first at the marble and then at me, saying things for which often I long
to kill them, and casting grains of incense into the little fire on the
altar in sacrifice to your spirit, whereby I trust it may be benefited.
Thus, Miriam, are we ruled in Rome to-day.

"Meanwhile, I am in great favour with Nero, so that men call me 'the
Fortunate,' and my house the 'Fortunate House,' a title of ill-omen.

"Yet out of this evil comes some good, since because of his present
affection for me, or my bust, I have now and again for your sake,
Miriam, been able to do service, even to the saving of their lives,
to those of your faith. Here there are many Christians whom it is an
amusement to Nero to persecute, torture, and slay, sometimes by soaking
them in tar and making of them living torches to illuminate his gardens,
and sometimes in other fashions. The lives of sundry of these poor
people he has given to me, when I begged them of him. Indeed, he has
done more. Yesterday Nero came himself to the temple and suggested that
certain of the Christians should be sacrificed in a very cruel fashion
here as an offering to your spirit. I answered that this could give it
little pleasure, seeing that in your lifetime you also were a Christian.
Thereon he wrung his hands, crying out, 'Oh! what a crime have I
committed,' and instantly gave orders that no more Christians should be
killed. So for a little while, thanks to your handiwork, and to me who
am called 'the Model,' they are safe--those who are left of them.

"I hear that there are