,
though they filled with tears at this unlooked-for attack, she preserved
her presence of mind, and declared she had spoken the truth, and nothing
but the truth, as she always did. The setting of her mistress' emerald
would prove her statement.

Orion shrugged his shoulders, desired the woman to fetch her mistress,
whose presence was now indispensable, and called to the treasurer:

"Go with her, Nilus! And let a servant bring the trunk here that the
owner may open it in the presence of us all and before any one else
touches the contents. I should not be the right person to undertake it
since no one in this Jacobite household--hardly even one of
yourselves--has found favor in the eyes of the Melchite. She has
unfortunately a special aversion for me, so I must depute to others every
proceeding that could lead to a misunderstanding.--Conduct her hither,
Nilus; of course with the respect due to a maiden of high rank."

While the envoy was gone Orion paced the room with swift, restless steps,
Once only he paused and addressed the judges:

"But supposing the empty setting should be found, how do you account for
the existence of two--two gems, each unique of its kind? It is
distracting. Here is a soft-hearted girl daring to mislead a serious
council of justice for the sake, for the sake of. . . ." he stamped his
foot with rage and continued his silent march.

"He is as yet but a beginner," thought the assembled officials as they
watched his agitation. "Otherwise how could he allow such an absurd
attempt to clear an accused thief to affect him so deeply, or disturb his
temper?"

Paula's arrival presently put an end to Orion's pacing the room. He
received her with a respectful bow and signed to her to be seated. Then
he bid Nilus recapitulate the results of the proceedings up to the
present stage, and what he and his colleagues supposed to be her motive
for asserting that the stolen emerald was her property. He would as far
as possible leave it to the others to question her, since she knew full
well on what terms she was with himself. Even before he had come into the
council-room she had offered her explanation of the robbery to Nilus,
through her nurse Perpetua; but it would have seemed fairer and more
friendly in his eyes--and here he raised his voice--if she had chosen to
confide to him, Orion, her plan for helping the freedman. Then he might
have been able to warn her. He could only regard this mode of action,
indepe