I have just now seen for the first time--I swear it
by Christ's wounds. It is an exquisite work. Only a very rich man--the
richest man here, can give away such a treasure, for whatever purpose
he may have in view--to destroy an enemy let us say.--Gamaliel," and she
turned to the Jew--"At what sum would you value that onyx?"

The Israelite asked to see the gem once more; he turned it about, and
then said with a grin: "Well, fair lady, if my black hen laid me little
things like that I would feed it on cakes from Arsinoe and oysters from
Canopus. The stone is worth a landed estate, and though I am not a rich
man, I would pay down two talents for it at any moment, even if I had to
borrow the money."

This statement could not fail to make a great impression on the judges.
Orion, however, exclaimed: "Wonders on wonders mark this eventful day!
The prodigal generosity which had become an empty name has revived again
among us! Some lavish demon has turned a worthless plate of gold into a
costly gem.--And may I ask who it was that saw the empty setting hanging
to your chain?" Paula was in danger of forgetting even that last reserve
she had imposed on herself; she answered with trembling accents:

"Apparently your confederates or you yourself did. You, and you alone,
have any cause...."

But he would not allow her to proceed. He abruptly interrupted her,
exclaiming: "This is really too much! Oh, that you were a man! How far
your generosity reaches I have already seen. Even hatred, the bitterest
hostility...."

"They would have every right to ruin you completely!" she cried, roused
to the utmost. "And if I were to charge you with the most horrible
crime. ..."

"You yourself would be committing a crime, against me and against this
house," he said menacingly. "Beware! Can self-delusion go so far that
you dare to appeal to me to testify to the fable you have trumped
up...."

"No. Oh, no! That would be counting on some honesty in you yet," she
loudly broke in. "I have other witnesses: Mary, the granddaughter of the
Mukaukas," and she tried to catch his eye.

"The child whose little heart you have won, and who follows you about
like a pet dog!" he cried.

"And besides Mary, Katharina, the widow Susannah's daughter," she added,
sure of her triumph, and the color mounted to her cheeks. "She is no
longer a child, but a maiden grown, as you know. I therefore demand of
you--" and she again turned to the assembly--"that you will f