orrow your evidence may be wanted."

"Will the girl be handed over to me then?"

"I think so," replied Saturius, "but of course I cannot say for certain,
as there may be legal difficulties in the way which would hinder her
immediate re-sale. However, you may rely upon me to do the best I can
for you."

"It will be to your advantage," answered Caleb significantly. "Shall we
say--fifty sestertia on receipt of the slave?"

"Oh! if you wish it, if you wish it, for gifts cement the hearts of
friends. On account? Well, to a man with many expenses, five sestertia
always come in useful. You know what it is in these palaces, so little
pay and so much to keep up. Thank you, dear Demetrius, I will give you
and the lady a supper out of the money--when you get her," he added to
himself as he left the office.

When early on the following morning Caleb came to his warehouse from the
dwelling where he slept, he found waiting for him two men dressed in
the livery of Domitian, who demanded that he would accompany them to the
palace of the prince.

"What for?"

"To give evidence in a trial," they said.

Then he knew that he had made no mistake, that his rival was caught, and
in the rage of his burning jealousy, such jealousy as only an Eastern
can feel, his heart bounded with joy. Still, as he trudged onward
through streets glittering in the morning sunlight, Caleb's conscience
told him that not thus should this rival be overcome, that he who went
to accuse the brave Marcus of cowardice was himself a coward, and that
from the lie which he was about to act if not to speak, could spring no
fruit of peace or happiness. But he was mad and blind. He could think
only of Miriam--the woman whom he loved with all his passionate nature
and whose life he had preserved at the risk of his own--fallen at last
into the arms of his rival. He would wrench her thence, yes, even at the
price of his own honour and of her life-long agony, and, if it might be,
leave those arms cold in death, as often already he had striven to do.
When Marcus was dead perhaps she would forgive him. At the least he
would occupy his place. She would be his slave, to whom, notwithstanding
all that had been, he would give the place of wife. Then, after a little
while, seeing how good and tender he was to her, surely she must forget
this Roman who had taken her girlish fancy and learn to love him.

Now they were passing the door of the palace. In the outer hall Saturiu