ithu on the Red Sea, who
had been a great warrior, by birth a Greek, and who for two years
had been leading a life of penance in great seclusion among the pious
brethren on the sacred Mount of Sinai. The messenger had not been able
to learn what his name in the world had been, but among the hermits he
was known as Paulus."

"Paulus!" interrupted the girl with panting breath. "A name that must
remind him of my mother and of me, yes, of me! And he, the hero of
Damascus, who was called Thomas in the world, believing that I was dead,
has no doubt dedicated himself to the service of God and of Christ, and
has taken the name of Paulus, as Saul, the other man of Damascus did
after his con version,--exactly like him! Oh! Betta, Hiram, you will
see: it is he, it must be! How can you doubt it?"

The Syrian shook his head doubtfully and gave vent to a long-drawn
whistle, and Perpetua clasped her hands exclaiming distressfully: "Did
I not say so? She takes the fire lighted by shepherds at night to warm
their hands for the rising sun--the rattle of chariots for the thunders
of the Almighty!--Why, how many thousands have called themselves Paulus!
By all the Saints, child, I beseech you keep quiet, and do not try to
weave a holiday-robe out of airy mist! Be prepared for the worst; then
you are armed against failure and preserve your right to hope! Tell her,
tell her, Hiram, what else the messenger said; it is nothing positive;
everything is as uncertain as dust in the breeze."

The freedman then explained that this Nabathaean was a trustworthy man,
far better skilled in such errands than himself, for he understood both
Syriac and Egyptian, Greek and Aramaic; and nevertheless he had failed
to find out anything more about this hermit Paulus at Tor, where
the monks of the monastery of the Transfiguration had a colony.
Subsequently, however, on the sea voyage to Holzum, he had been informed
by some monks that there was a second Sinai. The monastery there--but
here Perpetua again was the speaker, for the hapless stammerer's
brow was beaded with sweat--the monastery at the foot of the peaked,
heaven-kissing mountain, had been closed in consequence of the heresies
of its inhabitants; but in the gorges of these great heights there
were still many recluses, some in a small Coenobium, some in Lauras and
separate caves, and among these perchance Paulus might be found. This
clue seemed a good one and she and Hiram had already made up their mind