“Will the girl be handed over to me then?”

“I think so,” replied Saturius, “but of course I cannot say for certain, as there may be legal difficulties in the way which would hinder her immediate re-sale.  However, you may rely upon me to do the best I can for you.”

“It will be to your advantage,” answered Caleb significantly.  “Shall we say—­fifty sestertia on receipt of the slave?”

“Oh! if you wish it, if you wish it, for gifts cement the hearts of friends.  On account?  Well, to a man with many expenses, five sestertia always come in useful.  You know what it is in these palaces, so little pay and so much to keep up.  Thank you, dear Demetrius, I will give you and the lady a supper out of the money—­when you get her,” he added to himself as he left the office.

When early on the following morning Caleb came to his warehouse from the dwelling where he slept, he found waiting for him two men dressed in the livery of Domitian, who demanded that he would accompany them to the palace of the prince.

“What for?”

“To give evidence in a trial,” they said.

Then he knew that he had made no mistake, that his rival was caught, and in the rage of his burning jealousy, such jealousy as only an Eastern can feel, his heart bounded with joy.  Still, as he trudged onward through streets glittering in the morning sunlight, Caleb’s conscience told him that not thus should this rival be overcome, that he who went to accuse the brave Marcus of cowardice was himself a coward, and that from the lie which he was about to act if not to speak, could spring no fruit of peace or happiness.  But he was mad and blind.  He could think only of Miriam—­the woman whom he loved with all his passionate nature and whose life he had preserved at the risk of his own—­fallen at last into the arms of his rival.  He would wrench her thence, yes, even at the price of his own honour and of her life-long agony, and, if it might be, leave those arms cold in death, as often already he had striven to do.  When Marcus was dead perhaps she would forgive him.  At the least he would occupy his place.  She would be his slave, to whom, notwithstanding all that had been, he would give the place of wife.  Then, after a little while, seeing how good and tender he was to her, surely she must forget this Roman who had taken her girlish fancy and learn to love him.

Now they were passing the door of the palace.  In the outer hall Saturius met them and motioned to the slaves to stand back.

“So you have them,” said Caleb, eagerly.

“Yes, or to be exact, one of them.  The lady has vanished.”

Caleb staggered back a pace.

“Vanished!  Where?”

“I wish that I could tell you.  I thought that perhaps you knew.  At least we found Marcus alone in his house, which he was about to leave, apparently to follow Titus.  But come, the court awaits you.”

“If she has gone, why should I come?” said Caleb, hanging back.