u never seemed to me so great and yet so
lovable as when in the midst of your triumph, you gave up the battle for
lost. Such an hour as that, a man experiences but once in his lifetime.
I have a good memory, but if ever I should forget it, and be angry and
passionate--as is sometimes my way--remind me of this spot, or of this
our dead friend, and my hard mood will melt, and I shall remember that
you once were ready to give your life for mine. I will make it easy for
you, for in honor of this man, who sacrificed his life for yours and who
was actually murdered in my stead, I promise to add his name of Serapion
to my own, and I will confirm this vow in Rome. He has behaved to us as
a father, and it behoves me to reverence his memory as though I had been
his son. An obligation was always unendurable to me, and how I shall
ever make full restitution to you for what you have done for me this
night I do not yet know--and yet I should be ready and willing every
day and every hour to accept from you some new gift of love. 'A debtor,'
says the proverb, 'is half a prisoner,' and so I must entreat you to
deal mercifully with your conquerer."

He took her hand, stroked back the hair from her forehead, and touched
it lightly with his lips. Then he went on:

"Come with me now that we may commit the dead into the hands of these
priests."

Klea once more bent over the remains of the anchorite, she hung the
amulet he had given her for her journey round his neck, and then
silently obeyed her lover. When they came up with the little procession
Publius informed the chief priest how he had found Serapion, and
requested him to fetch away the corpse, and to cause it to be prepared
for interment in the costliest manner in the embalming house attached
to their temple. Some of the temple-servants took their places to keep
watch over the body, and after many questions addressed to Publius, and
after examining too the body of the assassin who had been slain, the
priests returned to the temple.

As soon as the two lovers were left alone again Klea seized the Roman's
hand, and said passionately: "You have spoken many tender words to me,
and I thank you for them; but I am wont always to be honest, and less
than any one could I deceive you. Whatever your love bestows upon me
will always be a free gift, since you owe me nothing at all and I owe
you infinitely much; for I know now that you have snatched my sister
from the clutches of the mightiest i