d do so, seeing how long and
how often you pray to Him in burrows that a jackal would turn from."

"I think He will," answered Miriam, ceasing her sobs with a bold
up-lifting of her soul towards the light of perfect faith.

"I am sure He will," added Julia, gently stroking Miriam's dark and
curling hair.

"Then," broke in Gallus, driving the point to its logical conclusion,
"what have you to fear? A long, hot walk through the shouting populace,
who will do no harm to one so lovely, and after that, whatever good fate
your God may choose for you. Come, let us eat, that you may look your
best when you appear before the Caesars."

"I would rather look my worst," said Miriam, bethinking her of Domitian
and his bleared eyes. Still, to please Gallus, she tried to eat, and
afterwards, accompanied by him and by Julia, was carried in a closed
litter to the palace.

Too soon she was there, arriving a little before them, and was helped
from the litter by slaves wearing the Imperial livery. Now she found
herself alone in a great marble court filled with officers and nobles
awaiting audience.

"That is the Pearl-Maiden," said one of them, whereon they all crowded
around her, criticising her aloud in their idle curiosity.

"Too short," said one. "Too thin," said another. "Too small in the foot
for her ankle," said a third. "Fools," broke in a fourth, a young man
with a fine figure and dark rings round his eyes, "what is the use
of trying to cheapen this piece of goods thus in the eyes of the
experienced? I say that this Pearl-Maiden is as perfect as those pearls
about her own neck; on a small scale, perhaps, but quite perfect, and
you will admit that I ought to know."

"Lucius says that she is perfect," remarked one of them in a tone of
acquiescence, as though that verdict settled the matter.

"Yes," went on the critical Lucius, "now, to take one thing only, a
point so often overlooked. Observe how fresh and firm her flesh is. When
I press it thus," and he suited the action to the word, "as I thought,
my finger leaves scarcely any mark."

"But my arm does," said a gruff voice beside him, and next moment this
scented judge of human beings received the point of the elbow of Gallus
between the eyes just where the nose is set into the forehead. With such
force and skill was the blow directed that next instant the critic was
sprawling on his back upon the pavement, the blood gushing from his
nostrils. Now most of them laughed,