not what to do. The strong
place you know if is almost full of gold and still it comes. There
are the rents and profits of your great estates for three years; the
proceeds of the sale of slaves and certain properties, together with the
large outstanding amount that was due to my late master, the Lord Caius,
which I have at length collected. Oh! at least you will not lack for
money."

"There are other things that I could spare less readily," said Marcus,
with a sigh; "still, it may be needed. Now tie up those horses by the
fountain, and give us food, what you have, for we have ridden these
thirty hours without rest. Afterwards you can talk."

It was mid-day. Marcus, bathed, anointed, and clad in the robes of his
order, was standing in one of the splendid apartments of his marble
house, looking through an opening in the shutters at the passing of the
Triumph. Presently old Nehushta joined him. She also was clad in clean,
white robes which the slave woman had found for her.

"Have you any news?" asked Marcus impatiently.

"Some, lord, which I have pieced together from what is known by the
slave-woman, and by your steward, Stephanus. A beautiful Jewish captive
is to walk in the Triumph and afterwards to be sold with other captives
in the Forum. They heard of her because it is said that there has been
a quarrel between Titus and his brother Domitian, and Vespasian also, on
account of this woman."

"A quarrel? What quarrel?"

"I, or rather your servants, know little of it, but they have heard that
Domitian demanded the girl as a gift, whereon Titus told him that if
he wished for her, he might buy her. Then the matter was referred to
Vespasian Caesar, who upheld the decree of Titus. As for Domitian, he
went away in a rage, declaring that he would purchase the girl and
remember the affront which had been put upon him."

"Surely the gods are against me," said Marcus, "if they have given me
Domitian for a rival."

"Why so, lord? Your money is as good as his, and perhaps you will pay
more."

"I will pay to my last piece, but will that free me from the rage and
hate of Domitian?"

"Why need he knew that you were the rival bidder?"

"Why? Oh! in Rome everything is known--even the truth sometimes."

"Time enough to trouble when trouble comes. First let us wait and see
whether this maid be Miriam."

"Aye," he answered, "let us wait--since we must."

So they waited and with anxious eyes watched the great show roll