“And to take her for yourself,” answered Nehushta.  “Oh! we Christians also have eyes to see and ears to hear, and, black-hearted traitor that you are, we know all your shame.  We know of your bargain with the chamberlain of Domitian, by which the body of the slave was to be the price of the life of her buyer.  We know how you swore away the honour of your rival, Marcus, with false testimony, and how from week to week you have quartered Rome as a vulture quarters the sky till at length you have smelt out the quarry.  Well, she is helpless, but One is strong, and may His vengeance fall upon your life and soul.”

Suddenly Nehushta’s voice, that had risen to a scream, died away, and she stood before him threatening him with her bony fists, and searching his face with her burning eyes, a vengeance incarnate.

“Peace, woman, peace,” said Caleb, shrinking back before her.  “Spare your reproaches; if I have sinned much it is because I have loved more——­”

“And hate most of all,” added Nehushta.

“Oh!  Caleb,” broke in Miriam, “if as you say you love me, why should you deal thus with me?  You know well that I do not love you after this sort, no, and never can, and even if you keep me from Domitian, who does but make a tool of you, what would it advantage you to take a woman who leaves her heart elsewhere?  Also I may never marry you for that same reason that I may not marry Marcus, because my faith is and must remain apart from yours.  Would you make a base slave of your old playmate, Caleb?  Would you bring her to the level of a dancing-girl?  Oh! let me go in peace.”

“Upon the ship Luna,” said Caleb sullenly.

Miriam gasped!  So he knew their plans.

“Yes,” she replied desperately, “upon the ship Luna, to find such a fate as Heaven may give me; at least to be at peace and free.  For your soul’s sake, Caleb, let me go.  Once years ago you swore that you would not force yourself upon me against my will.  Will you break that oath to-day?”

“I swore also, Miriam, that it should go ill with any man who came between you and me.  Shall I break that oath to-day?  Give yourself to me of your own will and save Marcus.  Refuse and I will bring him to his death.  Choose now between me and your lover’s life.”

“Are you a coward that you should lay such a choice upon me, Caleb?”

“Call me what you will.  Choose.”

Miriam clasped her hands and for a moment stood looking upwards.  Then a light of purpose grew upon her face and she answered: 

“Caleb, I have chosen.  Do your worst.  The fate of Marcus is not in my hands, or your hands, but in the hands of God; nor, unless He wills it, can one hair of his head be harmed by you or by Domitian.  For is it not written in the book of your own Law that ’the King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, he turneth it whithersoever he will.’  But my honour is my own, and to stain it would be a sin for which I alone must answer to Heaven and to Marcus, dead or living—­Marcus, who would curse and spit upon me did I attempt to buy his safety at such a price.”