Marcus, for you have a noble heart."

"It may be so; the future is on the knees of the gods, and that which
is fated will befall. My Lady Miriam, I, your humble servant and friend,
wish you farewell."

"Farewell," she answered. "Yes, Nehushta is right, you have a noble
heart"; and she looked at him in such a fashion that it flashed across
his mind that were he to proffer that request of his again, it might
not be refused. But Marcus would not do it. He had tasted of the joy of
self-conquest, who hitherto, after the manner of his age and race, had
denied himself little, and, as it seemed to him, a strange new power
was stirring in his heart--something purer, higher, nobler, than he had
known before. He would cherish it a while.

Of all that were spoken there in the garden, Caleb, the watcher, could
catch no word. The speakers did not raise their voices and they stood
at a distance, so that although he craned his head forward as far as he
dared in the shadow of the trees, sharp and trained as they were, naught
save a confused murmur reached his ears. But if these failed him, his
eyes fed full, so that he lost no move or gesture. It was a passionate
love scene, this was clear, for Nehushta stood at a little distance with
her back turned, while the pair poured out their sweet speeches to each
other. Then at length, as he had expected, came the climax. Yes, oh!
shameless woman--they were embracing. A mist fell upon Caleb's eyes, in
which lights flashed like red-hot swords lifting and smiting, the blood
drummed in his ears as though his raging, jealous heart would burst.
He would kill that Roman now on the spot. Miriam should never kiss him
more--alive.

Already Caleb had drawn the short-sword from its hiding-place in his
ample robe; already he had stepped out from the shadow of the trees,
when of a sudden his reason righted itself like a ship that has been
laid over by a furious squall, and caution came back to him. If he
did this that faithless guardian, Nehushta, who without doubt had been
bought with Roman gold, would come to the assistance of her patron and
thrust her dagger through his back, as she well could do. Or should he
escape that dagger, one or other of them would raise the Essenes on
him, and he would be given over to justice. He wished to slay, not to be
slain. It would be sweet to kill the Roman, but if he himself were laid
dead across his body, leaving Miriam alive to pass to some other man,
what would h