iots, the roar to a triumphant peal
which shook the street like thunder. And so on for miles and miles, till
Miriam's eyes were dim with the glare and glitter, and her head swam at
the ceaseless sound of shouting.

Often the procession would halt for a while, either because of a check
to one of the pageants in front, or in order that some of its members
might refresh themselves with drink which was brought to them. Then the
crowd, ceasing from its cheers, would make jokes, and criticise whatever
person or thing they chanced to be near. Greatly did they criticise
Miriam in this fashion, or at the least she thought so, who must
listen to it all. Most of them, she found, knew her by her name of
Pearl-Maiden, and pointed out to each other the necklace about her
throat. Many, too, had heard something of her story, and looked eagerly
at the picture of the gate Nicanor blazoned upon her breast. But the
greater part concerned themselves only with her delicate beauty, passing
from mouth to mouth the gossip concerning Domitian, his quarrel with the
Caesars, and the intention which he had announced of buying this captive
at the public sale. Always it was the same talk; sometimes more brutal
and open than others--that was the only difference.

Once they halted thus in the street of palaces through which they passed
near to the Baths of Agrippa. Here the endless comments began again, but
Miriam tried to shut her ears to it and looked about her. To her left
was a noble-looking house built of white marble, but she noticed that
its shutters were closed, also that it was undecorated with garlands,
and idly wondered why. Others wondered too, for when they had wearied
of discussing her points, she heard one plebeian ask another whose house
that was and why it had been shut up upon this festal day. His fellow
answered that he could not remember the owner's name, but he was a rich
noble who had fallen in the Jewish wars, and that the palace was closed
because it was not yet certain who was his heir.

At that moment her attention was distracted by a sound of groans and
laughter coming from behind. She looked round to see that the wretched
Jewish general, Simon, had sunk fainting to the ground, overcome by
the heat, or the terrors of his mind, or by the sufferings which he was
forced to endure at the hands of his cruel guards, who flogged him as
he walked, for the pleasure of the people. Now they were beating him to
life again with their ro