father's palace."

Her eyes were playful, as if they would try the heart of her lover.

"And when I saw you," said Vergilius, "I--I knew you were the betrothed
of the assessor."

"And why?" she besought, with a smile.

"Because I heard him say in Rome that, of all the daughters of Judea,
you were most beautiful."

Her eyes looked full upon his and he saw in them a glint of that fire
which had begun to burn within her. He said to himself, as he came
away, "Here is another Cleopatra--a woman made to pull down the mighty."

Next day from the daughter of Herod came a letter to the young tribune:

"NOBLE SON OF VARRO,--I have much to say concerning your welfare, and I
doubt not you will desire to hear it. If I judge you rightly, come to
the palace of my mother the second evening before the nones. An hour
after sunset I will meet you at the gate of bronze. Say naught to
Manius of your coming or of this letter."

"Temptress!" said he, crushing the sheet of scented vellum. "But she
is beautiful," he added, wistfully. "She is like the Venus of
Alcamenes. I would love well to look upon her again."

He smoothed out the crumpled vellum.

"'Say naught to Manius,'" he read again. "I like it not. I shall
write to her that I have other business."

And so did he, although in phrases of regret, as became one addressing
a daughter of the great king.

Sorely vexed, she thought ever of the noble beauty of the Roman youth,
and became more eager to gain her purpose. It may be the girl bore for
him a better feeling than she had ever known. She wished, if possible,
to win him, knowing that her father would not be slow to help him
forward. The handsome youth had pleased her eye, and might, also,
gratify her ambition. Those days the art of intrigue was the study of
a king's daughter; so, straightway, she invented a cunning plan.
Knowing the great desire of Vergilius, she bribed the priest Lugar to
give him crafty counsel. On the very morning of that second day the
priest came to him.

"How fares your soul, noble tribune?" said Lugar.

"I feel it strong in me," said Vergilius.

"And you would know if it be strong unto salvation?"

"That would I gladly know."

"Come with me this night and you shall see your soul in the balance."

"And whither shall we go?"

"To the palace of Laban, steward of the king. I shall come for you
soon after the ninth hour."

"And thereby increase my debt to you," said Vergilius.