Also there were present, a treasurer, some officers and two or three of the intimate friends of Titus.

Vespasian looked up.

“Greeting, worthy Gallus,” he said in the friendly, open voice of one who has spent his life in camps, “and to your wife, Julia, greeting also.  So that is the Pearl-Maiden of whom we have heard so much talk.  Well, I do not pretend to be a judge of beauty, still I say that this Jewish captive does not belie her name.  Titus, do you recognise her?”

“In truth, no, father.  When last I saw her she was a sooty, withered little thing whom Gallus yonder carried in his great arms, as a child might carry a large doll that he had rescued from the fire.  Yes, I agree that she is beautiful and worthy of a very good place in the procession.  Also she should fetch a large price afterwards, for that necklace of pearls goes with her—­make a note of this, Scribe—­and the reversion to considerable property in Tyre and elsewhere.  This, by special favour, she will be allowed to inherit from her grandfather, the old rabbi, Benoni, one of the Sanhedrim, who perished in the burning of the Temple.”

“How can a slave inherit property, son?” asked Vespasian, raising his eyebrows.

“I don’t know,” answered Titus with a laugh.  “Perhaps Domitian can tell you.  He says that he has studied law.  But so I have decreed.”

“A slave,” interrupted Domitian wisely, “has no rights and can hold no property, but the Caesar of the East”—­here he sneered—­“can declare that certain lands and goods will pass to the highest bidder with the person of the slave, and this, Vespasian Caesar, my father, is what I understand Titus Caesar, my brother, has thought it good to do in the present instance.”

“Yes,” said Titus in a quiet voice, though his face flushed, “that, Domitian, is what I have thought it good to do.  In such a matter is not my will enough?”

“Conqueror of the East,” replied Domitian, “Thrower-down of the mountain stronghold called Jerusalem, to which the topless towers of Ilium were as nothing, and Exterminator of a large number of misguided fanatics, in what matter is not your will enough?  Yet a boon, O Caesar.  As you are great, be generous,” and with a mocking gesture he bowed the knee to Titus.

“What boon do you seek of me, brother, who know that all I have is, or,” he added slowly, “will be—­yours?”

“One that is already granted by your precious words, Titus.  Of all you have, which is much, I seek only this Pearl-Maiden, who has taken my fancy.  The girl only, not her property in Tyre, wherever that may be, which you can keep for yourself.”

Vespasian looked up, but before he could speak, Titus answered quickly: 

“I said, Domitian, ‘all I have.’  This maid I have not, therefore the words do not apply.  I have decreed that the proceeds of the sale of these captives is to be divided equally between the wounded soldiers and the poor of Rome.  Therefore she is their property, not mine.  I will not rob them.”