In these agitated
times it will be a matter of some difficulty to invest this capital
safely and to good advantage. Consider: just as the Arabs drove out the
Byzantines, the Byzantines might drive them out again in their turn. The
Persians, though stricken to the earth, the Avars, or some other people
whose very name is as yet unknown to history, may succeed our present
rulers, who, only ten years since, were regarded as a mere handful
of unsettled camel-drivers, caravan-leaders, and poverty-stricken
desert-tribes. The safety of your fortune would be less difficult to
provide for if, as was formerly the case here, we could entrust it to
the merchants of Alexandria. But one great house after another is being
ruined there, and all security is at an end. As to hiding or burying
your possessions, as most Egyptians do in these hard times, it is
impossible, for the same reason as prevents our depositing it on
interest in the state land-register. You must be able to get it at the
shortest notice; since you might at some time wish to quit Egypt in
haste with all your possessions.

"These are matters with which a woman cannot be familiar. I would
therefore propose that you should leave the arrangement of them to
us men; to Philippus, the physician, Rufinus, your host--who is, I am
assured, an honest man--and to our experienced and trustworthy treasurer
Nilus, whom you know as an incorruptible judge.

"I propose that the business should be settled tomorrow in the house of
Rufinus. You can be present or not, as you please. If we men agree in
our ideas I beg you--I beseech you to grant me an interview apart. It
will last but a few minutes, and the only subject of discussion will be
a matter--an exchange by which you will recover something you value and
have lost, and grant me I hope, if not your esteem, at any rate a
word of forgiveness. I need it sorely, believe me, Paula; it is as
indispensable to me as the breath of life, if I am to succeed in the
work I have begun on myself. If you have prevailed on yourself to read
through this letter, simply answer 'Yes' by my messenger, to relieve me
from torturing uncertainty. If you do not--which God forefend for both
our sakes, Nilus shall this very day carry to you all that belongs
to you. But, if you have read these lines, I will make my appearance
to-morrow, at two hours after noon, with Nilus to explain to the others
the arrangement of which I have spoken. God be with you and infuse