ness's compliments are unnecessary. It is to your office, not
to yourself, that this business relates.'

Cyril, whose conscience was ill enough at ease that morning, felt
abashed before Raphael's dry and quiet manner, which bespoke, as he well
knew, reproof more severe than all open upbraidings. So looking down,
not without something like a blush, he ran his eye hastily over the
paper; and then said, in his blandest tone-- 'My brother will forgive me
for remarking, that while I acknowledge his perfect right to dispose
of his charities as he will, it is somewhat startling to me, as
Metropolitan of Egypt to find not only the Abbot Isidore of Pelusium,
but the secular Defender of the Plebs, a civil officer, implicated, too,
in the late conspiracy, associated with me as co-trustees.'

'I have taken the advice of more than one Christian bishop on the
matter. I acknowledge your authority by my presence here. If the
Scriptures say rightly, the civil magistrates are as much God's
ministers as you; and I am therefore bound to acknowledge their
authority also. I should have preferred associating the Prefect with you
in the trust: but as your dissensions with the present occupant of that
post might have crippled my scheme, I have named the Defender of the
Plebs, and have already put into his hands a copy of this document.
Another copy has been sent to Isidore, who is empowered to receive all
moneys from my Jewish bankers in Pelusium.'

'You doubt, then, either my ability or my honesty?' said Cyril, who was
becoming somewhat nettled.

'If your Holiness dislikes my offer, it is easy to omit your name in the
deed. One word more. If you deliver up to justice the murderers of my
friend Hypatia, I double my bequest on the spot.'

Cyril burst out instantly--

'Thy money perish with thee! Do you presume to bribe me into delivering
up my children to the tyrant?'

'I offer to give you the means of showing more mercy, provided that you
will first do simple justice.'

'Justice?' cried Cyril. 'Justice? If it be just that Peter should die,
sir, see first whether it was not just that Hypatia should die. Not that
I compassed it. As I live, I would have given my own right hand that
this had not happened! But now that it is done--let those who talk of
justice look first in which scale of the balance it lies! Do you fancy,
sir, that the people do not know their enemies from their friends? Do
you fancy that they are to sit with folded hands,