he took his place against the
curtained hanging, and stood like a statue until his mistress said,
without looking toward him, "Stand thou before me."

"What is thy command, most noble mistress?" he asked as he stepped
before her and with squared shoulders and crossed arms waited her
command.

She did not answer for a few moments. When she spoke it was an
inquiry. "The Jew of the Temple--his face do I see whether I look in
the circle where the light falls or in the corners where the shadows
gather--his face. With such eyes doth he look into my eyes as it
seemeth have been searching me out since the beginning of time. And
those eyes are imploring me for something--pleading as if for some
withheld treasure."

"Yea, most noble mistress."

"'Yea' thou dost say. Dost thou know the request of the Jew's eyes?"

"Yea, most noble mistress."

"What sayeth those eyes to Claudia?"

"This sayeth those eyes to the heart of Claudia, 'Give me thy heart.'"

"My heart!" Claudia exclaimed.

"Yea, most noble mistress. This is the treasure the Galilean doth
implore of thee."

Claudia arose. She stood in silent thought a moment. Then she turned
her eyes to the face of the eunuch and after studying it said, "Thy
scarred face did glow this day with a light that seemed not earthly.
My slave hath had words with the Jew. Is it forbidden to tell them to
a Roman woman?"

"With the Galilean there is neither Roman nor Jew. Neither is it
forbidden to spread abroad his teachings. The words he did say to thy
scarred slave were these: 'Blessed be the eyes which see the things
that ye see; for many prophets and kings have desired to see those
things which ye see and have not seen them; and to hear those things
which ye hear, and have not heard them.'"

With her eyes on the face of the slave, Claudia pondered the words he
had spoken before saying, "And he hath said thy eyes be blessed because
thou seest something hidden. I would understand. Is this forbidden?"

"Nay. Yet there is an understanding of the heart which is unutterable.
To another heart no words can make it known. Of this did he speak to
thy slave. There is that, however, coming ever from the power
unspeakable, that hath a name. This word wouldst thou hear?"

"Yea, yea, my eunuch. Speak it."

"It is _freedom_."

"Freedom? What sayest thou, slave of Claudia? What meanest thou? Art
thou not the property of thy mistress?"

"There is freedom, and again the