s
met them and motioned to the slaves to stand back.

"So you have them," said Caleb, eagerly.

"Yes, or to be exact, one of them. The lady has vanished."

Caleb staggered back a pace.

"Vanished! Where?"

"I wish that I could tell you. I thought that perhaps you knew. At
least we found Marcus alone in his house, which he was about to leave,
apparently to follow Titus. But come, the court awaits you."

"If she has gone, why should I come?" said Caleb, hanging back.

"I really don't know, but you must. Here, slaves, escort this witness."

Then seeing that it was too late to change his mind, Caleb waved them
back and followed Saturius. Presently they entered an inner hall, lofty,
but not large. At the head of it, clad in the purple robes of his royal
house, sat Domitian in a chair, while to his right and left were narrow
tables, at which were gathered five or six Roman officers, those of
Domitian's own bodyguard, bare-headed, but arrayed in their mail. Also
there were two scribes with their tablets, a man dressed in a lawyer's
robe, who seemed to fill the office of prosecutor, and some soldiers on
guard.

When Caleb entered, Domitian, who, notwithstanding his youthful,
ruddy countenance, looked in a very evil mood, was engaged in talking
earnestly to the lawyer. Glancing up, he saw him and asked:

"Is that the Jew who gives evidence, Saturius?"

"My lord, it is the man," answered the chamberlain; "also the other
witness waits without."

"Good. Then bring in the accused."

There was a pause, till presently Caleb heard footsteps behind him
and looked round to see Marcus advancing up the hall with a proud and
martial air. Their eyes met, and for an instant Marcus stopped.

"Oh!" he said aloud, "the Jew Caleb. Now I understand." Then he marched
forward and gave the military salute to the prince.

Domitian stared at him with hate in his pale eyes, and said carelessly:

"Is this the accused? What is the charge?"

"The charge is," said the lawyer, "that the accused Marcus, a prefect
of horse serving with Titus Caesar in Judaea, suffered himself to be taken
prisoner by the Jews when in command of a large body of Roman troops,
contrary to the custom of the army and to the edict issued by Titus
Caesar at the commencement of the siege of Jerusalem. This edict
commanded that no soldier should be taken alive, and that any soldier
who was taken alive and subsequently rescued, or who made good his
escape, should be