She thought of Abraham’s sacrifice, and wondered if the Lord might not perhaps be satisfied with Melissa’s willingness to lay her love upon the altar.  In any case, whatever she, Euryale, could do to save her from the worst fate that could befall a woman, that should be done, and this time it was she who drew the other toward her and kissed her.

Her heart was full to overflowing, and yet she did not forget to warn Melissa to be careful, when she was about to lay her head with its artificially arranged curls upon the lady’s breast.

“No, no,” she said, tenderly warding off the maiden’s embrace.  Then, laying her hands on the girl’s shoulders, she looked her straight in the face, and continued:  “Here you will ever find a resting-place.  When your hair lies smoothly round your sweet face, as it did yesterday, then lay it on my breast as often as you will.  Aye, and it can and shall be here in the Serapeum; though not in these rooms, which my lord and master closes against you.  I told you of the time being fulfilled for each one of us, and when yours came you proved yourself to be the good tree of which our Lord speaks as bearing good fruit.  You look at me inquiringly; how indeed should you understand the words of a Christian?  But I shall find time enough in the next few days to explain them to you; for—­I say it again—­you shall remain near me while the emperor searches the city and half the world over for you.  Keep that firmly in your mind and let it help to give you courage in the Circus.”

“But my father?” cried Melissa, pointing to the curtain, through which Heron’s loud voice now became audible.

“Depend on me,” whispered the lady, hurriedly; “and rest assured that he will be warned in time.  Do not betray my promise.  If we were to take him into our confidence now, he would spoil all.  As soon as he is gone, and your brother has returned, you two shall hear—­”

They were interrupted by the steward, who, with a peculiar smile upon his clean-shaven lips, came to announce Heron’s visit.

The communicative gem-cutter had already confided to the servant what it was that agitated him so greatly, but Melissa was astonished at the change in her father’s manner.

The shuffling gait of the gigantic, unwieldy man, who had grown gray stooping over his work, had gained a certain majestic dignity.  His cheeks glowed, and the gray eyes, which had long since acquired a fixed look from straining over the gemcutting, now beamed with a blissful radiance.  Something wonderful must have happened to him, and, without waiting to be questioned by the lady, he poured out to her the news that he would have been overjoyed to have shouted in the market-place for all to hear.

The reception accorded to him at Caesar’s table, he declared, had been flattering beyond all words.  The godlike monarch had treated him more considerately, nay, sometimes with more reverence, than his own sons.  The best dishes had been put before him, and Caracalla had asked all sorts of questions about his future consort, and, on hearing that Melissa had sent him greetings, he had raised himself and drunk to him as if he were a friend.