She moved away from him.  There was a step behind her and Laodice, coloring shamedly, looked straight into the accusing eyes of Momus who stood there.  The stranger rose.

“I shall see you again,” he said to her.

He took her hand and lifted it to his lips.  The next instant he was gone.

Chapter VII

IMPERIAL CAESAR

When the Maccabee had returned to the spot in the sedgy valley where he and Julian had halted, he found the Ephesian white to the lips and with ignited eyes awaiting him.

“How much longer?” the Ephesian demanded.

“What!  Fast and slow!” the Maccabee said calmly.  “Last night you wasted hours to spite me.  To-day you begrudge me a moment’s talk with a lovely wayfarer.  Or is it because she prefers me?  You have ordered our progress long enough.  I shall move when it pleases me.”

He sat down by the fire, clasping his hands back of his head, and half-closed his eyes.  The Ephesian rose and tramped restlessly about.  As he glanced down at the reposeful attitude of the man whom he could not exasperate he saw the sun glitter on the Maccabaean signet on the hand clasped back of Philadelphus’ head.  The sight of it in a way collected Julian’s purposes.  He knew that by some misadventure he had missed Aquila whom he had hoped to meet in Emmaus, bearing treasure stolen from the daughter of Costobarus.  By this time, then, the Maccabee’s emissary had doubtless arrived in Jerusalem—­the last possible point for the two conspirators to meet.  To proceed to Jerusalem without the Maccabee, with whatever excuse he could invent, would not deliver the dowry of the bride into his hands, in the event that Aquila had not succeeded in his instructions to make way with Laodice before he reached Jerusalem.  Nothing occurred to Julian at that moment but to impersonate the Maccabee until it was possible to get possession of the two hundred talents from those friends in Jerusalem who were interested in his cousin’s welfare.  No one in Jerusalem knew Philadelphus Maccabaeus.  Aquila, as fellow-conspirator, would not dare to expose him if Julian appeared as his cousin.  Perilous at best, it seemed the only plan by which he was to get possession of a fortune which even Caesar would be glad to have.

The resolution formed itself in a brain turbulent with passion and desperation.  He halted silently back of his cousin and with a sudden flare of intent on his dead white face snatched a dagger from his girdle and drove it between the shoulders of the Maccabee.  Without a word, Philadelphus turned upon his assailant and started to his feet.  But Julian, catching a glimpse of the dire purpose in his cousin’s darkened eyes, struck again.  The knife, blindly wielded, glanced on the Maccabee’s head with wild force.  Under a veil of scarlet Philadelphus sank to the earth.

Julian with a sob of terror sprang out of range of his victim’s gaze.  After a time he took courage and looked.  The lids were fallen and the breast was still.