. It seemeth past reason that enough of meat so small
should be secured to banquet on. Yet when Rome would banquet, all
things are hers. Into far places goeth the fowler with his snare and
by the thousand are the fowls of the air sent in, to be burned, save
the tongues of them."

The eyes of Mary were fastened on the face of her guest in bewildered
amazement. "And you ate nightingales' tongues?" she again exclaimed.

"By the gold plate full. Savory beyond telling was the dish and my
appetite was at best."

The eyes of Mary turned from the face of Zador.

"Mary hath three unfeathered ones she spendeth much time feeding," Joel
remarked after a short silence. "She would have them grow large."

Zador looked at Mary, leaned his head against a pillow and laughed.
"And so our Mary would sup after the manner of Rome. Three
nightingales? The tongues of them all will not make a taste!"

A flush tinged Mary's face as she said, "Dost thou think I would
nourish the lives of nestlings to pluck from their throats their
tongues?" and she cast a straight glance at the reclining man.

"Of what other use are they?" and a mild expression of interest showed
on Zador's face.

"Hast thou forgotten the song?"

"Song? Hear the woman, Lazarus, my friend! But a moment ago she did
put a value on hearts. Now songs have a value. The heart of a woman
and the song of a bird! Are they worth shekels or talents, my fair
Mary?"

"The love of the heart is priceless," she replied, "and there is music
of value more than gold talents."

"Are not the silver trumpets of the Temple music enough for thee?"

"Such music is indeed sweet. But there is yet other music."

After Mary had excused herself and gone into the garden a few moments
later, Martha said, "She hath gone to feed her nestlings."

"Then will I show you the rare gift I brought thy sister," and from a
leather case taken from inside his cloak Zador drew a delicately
wrought anklet of gold set thick with shining green chalcedony. From
it hung bangles, like bits of fine gold lace, carrying, each in the
center, a precious stone of changing color. At sight of it Martha gave
an exclamation of delight, and Lazarus and Joel looked at it with
interest. "My betrothal gift to Mary," Zador Ben Amon said with
undisguised admiration as he turned it about and shook it so that the
tinkling of the bangles sounded. "From Ceylon came the garnets and the
emerald from Ethiopian mines. W