may be of service to our
cause. This Miriam of whom he speaks, who can she be? unless, indeed,
Rachel bore a daughter before she died. Why not? She would not have left
it to my care who desired that it should be reared in her own accursed
faith and looked upon me as the murderer of her husband and herself. If
so, I who thought myself childless, yet have issue upon the earth--at
least there is one in whom my blood runs. Beautiful, gifted--but a
Christian! The sin of the parents has descended on the child--yes, the
curse is on her also. I must seek her out. I must know the truth. Man,
what is it now? Can you not see that I would be alone?"

"Master, your pardon," said the Arab servant, bowing, "but the Roman
captain, Marcus, desires speech with you."

"Marcus? Oh, I remember the officer who was stationed here. I am not
well, I cannot see him. Bid him come to-morrow."

"Master, he bid me say that he sails for Rome to-night."

"Well, well, admit him," answered Benoni. "Perchance he comes to pay his
debt," he added.

The Arab departed, and presently the Roman was ushered in.

"Greetings, Benoni," he said, with his pleasant smile. "Here am I, yet
alive, for all your fears; so you see your money is still safe."

"I am glad to hear it, my lord Marcus," answered the Jew, bowing low.
"But if it will please you to produce it, with the interest, I think,"
he added drily, "it may be even safer in my strongbox."

Marcus laughed pleasantly.

"Produce it?" he said. "What jest is this? Why, I come to borrow more to
defray my costs to Rome."

Benoni's mouth shut like a trap.

"Nay," said Marcus, holding up his hand, "don't begin. I know it all.
The times are full of trouble and danger. Such little ready cash as you
have at command is out at interest in safer countries--Egypt, Rome,
and Italy; your correspondent at Alexandria has failed to make you the
expected remittance; and you have reason to believe that every ship in
which you are concerned is now at the bottom of the ocean. So would you
be so good as to lend me half a talent of silver--a thousand shekels in
cash and the rest in bills of exchange on your agents at Brundisium?"

"No," said Benoni, sternly.

"Yes," replied Marcus, with conviction. "Look you, friend Benoni, the
security is excellent. If I don't get drowned, or have my throat slit
between here and Italy, I am going to be one of the richest men in Rome;
so this is your last chance of lending me a trifle. Yo