, sniffing attar of
roses and dabbing vinegar water upon his forehead.

He listened indifferently to the tale of his jackal, until the full
meaning of the terms asked by the mysterious Eastern merchant penetrated
his sodden brain.

"Why," he said, "the man wants Pearl-Maiden; that's his share, while
mine is the life of the fellow who bought her, whoever he may be. Are
you still mad, man, that you should dare to lay such a proposal before
me? Don't you understand that I need both the woman and the blood of him
who dared to cheat me out of her?"

"Most divine prince, I understand perfectly, but this fish is only
biting; he must be tempted or he will tell nothing."

"Why not bring him here and torture him?"

"I have thought of that, but those Jews are so obstinate. While you were
twisting the truth out of him the other man would escape with the girl.
Much better promise everything he asks and then----"

"And then--what?"

"And then forget your promises. What can be simpler?"

"But he needs them in writing."

"Let him have them in writing, my writing, which your divine self can
repudiate. Only the pardon to Caleb, who I suppose is this Demetrius
himself, can be signed by Titus. It will not affect you whether a Jew
more or less has the right to trade in the Empire, if thereby you can
win his services in an important matter. Then, when the time comes,
you can net both your unknown rival and the lady, leaving our friend
Demetrius to report the facts to her relatives in Judaea, for whom, as he
states, he is alone concerned."

"Saturius," said Domitian, growing interested, "you are not so foolish
as I thought you were. Decidedly that trouble last night has quickened
your wits. Be so good as to stop wriggling your shoulders, will you,
it makes me nervous, and I wish that you would have that eye of yours
painted. You know that I cannot bear the sight of black; it reminds
me, who am by nature joyous and light-hearted as a child, of melancholy
things. Now forge a letter for my, or rather for your signature,
promising the reversion of Pearl-Maiden to this Demetrius. Then bear
my greetings to Titus, begging his signature to an order granting
the desired privileges to one Caleb, a Jew who fought against him at
Jerusalem--with less success than I could have wished--whom I desire to
favour."

Three hours later Saturius presented himself for the second time in the
office of the Alexandrian merchant.

"Most worthy Demet