es, then threw up his
hands and staggered back, saying:

"By the spear of Mars! it is Marcus himself, Marcus returned from the
dead! Welcome, my lord, welcome."

Marcus led his horse through the deep archway, and when Nehushta had
followed him into the courtyard beyond, returned, closed and locked the
door.

"Why did you think me dead, friend?" he asked.

"Oh! my lord," answered the steward, "because all who have come home
from the war declared that you had vanished away during the siege of the
city of the Jews, and that you must either be dead or taken prisoner.
Now I knew well that you would never disgrace your ancient house, or
your own noble name, or the Eagles which you serve, by falling alive
into the hands of the enemy. Therefore, I was sure that you were dead."

Marcus laughed bitterly, then turning to Nehushta, said:

"You hear, woman, you hear. If such is the judgment of my steward and
freedman, what will be that of Caesar and my peers?" Then he added, "Now,
Stephanus, that what you thought impossible--what I myself should have
thought impossible--has happened. I was taken prisoner by the Jews,
though through no fault of mine."

"Oh! if so," said the old steward, "hide it, my lord, hide it. Why, two
such unhappy men who had surrendered to save their lives and were found
in some Jewish dungeon, have been condemned to walk in the Triumph this
day. Their hands are to be tied behind them; in place of their swords
they must wear a distaff, and on their breasts a placard with the words
written: 'I am a Roman who preferred dishonour to death.' You would not
wish their company, my lord."

The face of Marcus went first red, then white.

"Man," he said, "cease your ill-omened talk, lest I should fall upon
my sword here before your eyes. Bid the slaves make ready the bath and
food, for we need both."

"Slaves, my lord? There are none here, save one old woman, who attends
to me and the house."

"Where are they then?" asked Marcus angrily.

"The most part of them I have sent into the country, thinking it better
that they should work upon your estates rather than live here idle, and
others who were not needed I have sold."

"You were ever careful, Stephanus." Then he added by an afterthought,
"Have you any money in the house?"

The old steward looked towards Nehushta suspiciously and seeing that
she was engaged with the horses out of earshot, answered in a whisper:
"Money? I have so much of it that I know