ear them to
others."

For a moment the slave stood as if dazed before his breath shaped the
words "Freedom? Freedom?" and his lips trembled as he said, "Do my
ears hear? Dost thou say 'Freedom' for thy scarred eunuch?"

"Yea, doubly free shalt thou go--free by the word of the Jew and free
by the hand of the Roman, and would that I too might be as free as thou
art!" Then the slave fell on his knees before Claudia, bowed his head
to her jeweled shoe and sobbed. There were tears in the eyes of
Pilate's wife as she said, "Arise--thou art no longer a slave."

Lifting his face, which appeared strangely noble, he said, "My
mistress--my most gracious mistress, thy feet are on the threshold of
the Kingdom."

"Arise--arise. Go to thy bed. This night thou art free. To-morrow
thou shalt go from me. As thou goest, forget not that the heart of
Claudia doth beat with sympathy for the oppressed and that she too hath
love for him whose love thou shalt spread abroad. Arise!"

The eunuch arose and extended his arms so that his mighty body stood
before her like a cross of flesh. Before it she bowed her head.

"The blessing of the Jew who is called Jesus fill thy heart, most
gracious Claudia, and the peace that cometh of his teaching rest thy
soul. Farewell!" He again kissed the border of her cloak, hesitated,
and turning abruptly, left the apartment.

When the curtain had swung into place shutting the slave from view,
Claudia sat down and called her maids. "Unclasp my jewels and unbind
my hair, Margara," she said wearily, throwing her cloak aside. "And
thou, Zenobe, summon Pilate's servant with the wine. Thy master
tarrieth, and delay improveth not the temper of a man when he would
have his cups."

The servant had placed a tray of wine beside the couch of Pilate and
the maids had gone out with the cloak and jewels when the approach of
the Procurator was announced by a shout, the tramping of feet and
clanking of arms. The door was thrown open wide and between two rows
of soldiery standing stiff and shining as the spears in their hands,
the Roman in royal purple and glittering winged helmet, entered.

"Greetings, Claudia! Dry am I as the Law of the Jews. Hath my wine
been made ready?"

"Thy wine is ready."

He threw himself down on the couch saying, "And over it shall I return
thanks, as do the Jews, that to-night doth end their uproar. No more
for a year will they feed on lamb, roast whole with bitter sauce.