se me," and he
shouted the words at Orion as if he were beside himself, "if I know how
we came to talk of such things! Has my folly gone running through the
streets, bare-bosomed, to display itself to the world at large? How do
you know what my feelings are? She, perhaps, has laughed with you at her
ridiculous lover?--Well, no matter. You know already, or will know by
to-morrow, which of us has won the cock-fight. You have only to look at
me! What woman ever broke her heart for such a Thersites-face. Good-luck
to the winner, and the other one--well, since it must be so, farewell
till to-morrow."

He hastily made his way towards the door; Orion, however, detained him,
imploring him to set aside his ill-feeling--at any rate for the present;
assured him that Paula had not betrayed what his feelings were; that,
on the contrary, he himself, seeing him with her so late on the previous
night, had been consumed by jealousy, and entreated him to vent his
wrath on him in abusive words, if that could ease his heart, only, by
all that was good, not to withdraw his succor from that poor, innocent
child.

The physician's humane heart was not proof against his prayer; and
when at length he prepared to depart, in the joyful and yet painful
conviction that his happier rival had become more worthy of the prize,
he had agreed that he would impress on Neforis, whose mind he suspected
to be slightly affected, that the air of the governor's residence did
not suit Mary, and that she should place her in the care of a physician
outside the town.

As soon as Philippus had quitted the house, Orion went to see Rufinus,
who, on his briefly assuring him that he had come on grave and important
business, begged him to accompany him to his private room. The young
man, however, detained him till he had made all clear with the women as
to the reception of little Mary.

"By degrees all the inhabitants of the residence will be transplanted
into our garden!" exclaimed Rufinus. "Well, I have no objection; and
you, old woman, what do you say to it?"

"I have none certainly," replied his wife. "Besides, neither you nor I
have to decide in this case: the child is to be Paula's guest."

"I only wish she were here already," said Paula, "for who can say
whether your mother, Orion--the air here is perilously Melchite."

"Leave Philippus and me to settle that.--You should have seen how
pleased Mary was."

Then, drawing Paula aside, he hastily added:

"Ha