sigh:

"But Benjamin the Patriarch, and John of Niku have tormented my soul
with fears! Still, you too, Ptolimus, bear the crosier, and to you I
will confess that your brethren in office, the shepherds of the Jacobite
fold, have ruined my peace for hundreds of days and nights, and I have
been near to cursing them. But before the night fell the Lord sent light
into my soul, and I forgave them, and now, through you, I crave their
pardon and their blessing. The Church has but reluctantly opened the
doors to me in these last years; but what servant can be allowed to
complain of the Master from whom he expects grace? So listen to me. I
close my eyes as a faithful and devoted adherent of the Church, and in
token thereof I will endow her to the best of my power and adorn her
with rich and costly gifts; I will--but I can say no more.--Speak for
me, Orion. You know--the gems--the hanging...."

His son explained to the bishop what a splendid gift, in priceless
jewels, the dying man intended to offer to the Church. He desired to be
buried in the church of St. John at Alexandria by his father's side, and
to be prayed for in front of the mortuary chapel of his ancestors in the
Necropolis; he had set aside a sum of money, in his will, to pay for
the prayers to be offered for his soul. The priests were well pleased to
hear this, and they absolved him unconditionally and completely; then,
after blessing him fervently, they quitted the room.

Philippus heaved a sigh of relief when the ecclesiastics had departed,
and constantly renewed the wet compress, while the dying governor lay
for a long time in silence with his eyes shut. Presently he rubbed them
as though he felt revived, raised his head a little with the physician's
help, and looking up, said:

"Draw the ring off my finger, Orion, and wear it worthily.--Where is
little Mary, where is Paula? I should wish to bid them farewell too."

The young man and his mother exchanged uneasy glances, but Neforis
collected herself at once and replied:

"We have sent for Mary; but Paula--you know she never was happy with
us--and since the events of yesterday...."

"Well?" asked the invalid.

"She hastily quitted the house; but we parted friends, I can assure
you of that; she is still in Memphis, and she spoke of you most
affectionately and wished to see you, and charged me with many loving
messages for you; so, if you really care to see her...."

The sick man tried to nod his head, but