evil; now as my heart
prompts me I speak of the promise of good. Let this woman go free as you
have the power to do; strike the chains off her neck and take back the
price that you have paid for her, since she has property which will
discharge it to the last farthing, which property to-day stands in her
name and can be conveyed to you. Then, go search the Scriptures and see
if you can find no message in them. If you find it, well and good, then
take her with a clean heart and be happy. If you find it not, well and
good, then leave her with a clean heart and be sorrowful, for so it is
decreed. Only in this matter do not dare to be double-minded, lest the
last evil overtake you and her, and your children and hers. Now I have
done, and, my lord Marcus, be so good as to signify your pleasure to
your slave, Pearl-Maiden, and your servant, Nehushta the Libyan."

Marcus began to walk up and down the room, out of the light into the
shadow, out of the shadow into the light. Presently he halted, and the
two women watching saw that his face was drawn and ashen, like the face
of an old man.

"My pleasure," he said vacantly, "--that is a strange word on my lips
to-night, is it not? Well, Nehushta, you have the best of the argument.
All you say is quite true, if a little over-coloured. Of course, Miriam
is quite right not to marry me if she has scruples, and, of course, I
should be quite wrong to take advantage of the accident of my being able
to purchase her in the slave-ring. I think that is all I have to say.
Miriam, I free you, as indeed I remember I promised the Essenes that I
would do. Since no one knows you belong to me, I suppose that no formal
ceremony will be necessary. It is a manumission 'inter amicos,' as the
lawyers say, but quite valid. As to the title to the Tyre property,
I accept it in payment of the debt, but I beg that you will keep it
a while on my behalf, for, at present, there might be trouble about
transferring it into my name. Now, good-night. Nehushta will take you to
her room, Miriam, and to-morrow you can depart whither you will. I wish
you all fortune, and--why do you not thank me? Under the circumstances,
it would be kind."

But Miriam only burst into a flood of tears.

"What will you do, Marcus? Oh! what will you do?" she sobbed.

"In all probability, things which I would rather you did not know of,"
he answered bitterly, "or I may take it into my head to accept the
suggestion of our friend, Nehush