Part 40 (1/2)

”Too short,” said one. ”Too thin,” said another. ”Too small in the foot for her ankle,” said a third. ”Fools,” broke in a fourth, a young man with a fine figure and dark rings round his eyes, ”what is the use of trying to cheapen this piece of goods thus in the eyes of the experienced? I say that this Pearl-Maiden is as perfect as those pearls about her own neck; on a small scale, perhaps, but quite perfect, and you will admit that I ought to know.”

”Lucius says that she is perfect,” remarked one of them in a tone of acquiescence, as though that verdict settled the matter.

”Yes,” went on the critical Lucius, ”now, to take one thing only, a point so often overlooked. Observe how fresh and firm her flesh is. When I press it thus,” and he suited the action to the word, ”as I thought, my finger leaves scarcely any mark.”

”But my arm does,” said a gruff voice beside him, and next moment this scented judge of human beings received the point of the elbow of Gallus between the eyes just where the nose is set into the forehead. With such force and skill was the blow directed that next instant the critic was sprawling on his back upon the pavement, the blood gus.h.i.+ng from his nostrils. Now most of them laughed, but some murmured, while Gallus said:

”Way there, friends, way there! I am charged to deliver this lady to the Caesars and to certify that while she was in my care no man has so much as laid a finger on her. Way there, I pray you! And as for that whimpering puppy on his back, if he wishes it, he knows where to find Gallus. My sword will mark him worse than my elbow, if he wants blood-letting, that I swear.”

Now with jests and excuses they fell back one and all. There were few of them who did not know that, lame as he might be now, old Gallus was still the fiercest and most dreaded swordsman of his legion. Indeed he was commonly reported to have slain eighteen men in single combat, and when young even to have faced the most celebrated gladiator of the day for sport, or to win a private bet, and given him life as he lay at his mercy.

So they pa.s.sed on through long halls guarded by soldiers, till at length they came to a wide pa.s.sage closed with splendid curtains, where the officer on duty asked them their business. Gallus told him and he vanished through the curtains, whence he returned presently, beckoning them to advance. They followed him down a corridor set with busts of departed emperors and empresses, to find themselves in a round marble chamber, very cool and lighted from above. In this chamber sat and stood three men: Vespasian, whom they knew by his strong, quiet face and grizzled hair; t.i.tus, his son, ”the darling of mankind,” thin, active, and aesthetic-looking, with eyes that were not unkindly, a sarcastic smile playing about the corners of his mouth; and Domitian, his brother, who has already been described, a man taller than either of them by half a head, and more gorgeously attired. In front of the august three was a master of ceremonies clad in a dark-coloured robe, who was showing them drawings of various sections of the triumphal procession, and taking their orders as to such alterations as they wished.

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

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. t.i.tus, 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 t.i.tus 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 pa.s.s to the highest bidder with the person of the slave, and this, Vespasian Caesar, my father, is what I understand t.i.tus Caesar, my brother, has thought it good to do in the present instance.”

”Yes,” said t.i.tus 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 t.i.tus.

”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, t.i.tus. 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, t.i.tus 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.”

”Virtuous man! No wonder that the legions love him who cannot withdraw one lot from a sale of thousands, even to please an only brother,”

soliloquised Domitian.

”If you wish for the maid,” went on t.i.tus, taking no heed of the insult, ”the markets are open--buy her. It is my last word.”

Suddenly Domitian grew angry, the false modesty left his face, his tall form straightened itself, and he stared round with his blear, evil-looking eyes.