found that to be a Roman is to be a brute. Farewell."

She moved to go. Esther followed her.

"Stay, and see my husband. He has no feeling against you. He sought
for you everywhere. He will be your friend. I will be your friend.
We are Christians."

The other was firm.

"No; I am what I am of choice. It will be over shortly."

"But"--Esther hesitated--"have we nothing you would wish; nothing
to--to--"

The countenance of the Egyptian softened; something like a smile
played about her lips. She looked at the children upon the floor.

"There is something," she said.

Esther followed her eyes, and with quick perception answered,
"It is yours."

Iras went to them, and knelt on the lion's skin, and kissed them
both. Rising slowly, she looked at them; then passed to the door
and out of it without a parting word. She walked rapidly, and was
gone before Esther could decide what to do.

Ben-Hur, when he was told of the visit, knew certainly what he had
long surmised--that on the day of the crucifixion Iras had deserted
her father for Messala. Nevertheless, he set out immediately and
hunted for her vainly; they never saw her more, or heard of her.
The blue bay, with all its laughing under the sun, has yet its
dark secrets. Had it a tongue, it might tell us of the Egyptian.

Simonides lived to be a very old man. In the tenth year of Nero's
reign, he gave up the business so long centred in the warehouse
at Antioch. To the last he kept a clear head and a good heart,
and was successful.

One evening, in the year named, he sat in his arm-chair on the
terrace of the warehouse. Ben-Hur and Esther, and their three
children, were with him. The last of the ships swung at mooring
in the current of the river; all the rest had been sold. In the
long interval between this and the day of the crucifixion but one
sorrow had befallen them: that was when the mother of Ben-Hur died;
and then and now their grief would have been greater but for their
Christian faith.

The ship spoken of had arrived only the day before, bringing
intelligence of the persecution of Christians begun by Nero
in Rome, and the party on the terrace were talking of the news
when Malluch, who was still in their service, approached and
delivered a package to Ben-Hur.

"Who brings this?" the latter asked, after reading.

"An Arab."

"Where is he?"

"He left immediately."

"Listen," said Ben-Hur to Simonides.

He read then the following letter:

"I, Il