"How didst thou learn of this?"

"O simple youth! Is it then so common in Judea for powers to be discovered with their hearts stunned, that no comment is made upon it?

Or perchance thou givest Flaccus credit for suffering in silence? That is better. Know, however, that he was discovered by the constabulary, and straightway such an outcry was never heard in Alexandria. But the proconsul aroused and cut it off in full voice. And there he made an error. He was made to be a straightforward man; he is too c.u.mbrous to be a knave. So speculation ran abroad in whispers, till the true cause was unearthed."

"And Cypros?"

"Cypros? Now canst thou, knowing Cypros, ask of her expecting any change? Beautiful statues do not change. What they express when they are finished they express until they are broken. When she came from under the sculptor's chisel, she was made to love her husband, and her babes, to believe whatever is told her, be beautiful, simple and good."

"So much the more Flaccus must have distressed her!"

"She does not suspect him!"

"What!"

"Amazement, at times, gentle sir, is reproach; wherefore since I am the author of this device, thou wilt be less astounded and, so, more complimentary. I knew that Cypros, being sweet, simple and guileless, would do no more than treat the proconsul with bitter disdain thereafter, and precipitate a climax, which in my opinion would entail twenty diverse calamities. I know Flaccus, I have sent the plummet to the bottom of his oceanic nature. I also know that the Lady Herod is an anomaly in her family, clean, faithful and loving. So with Agrippa out of reach, the proconsul may conspire all he pleases to alienate the princess from her Arab, in vain. Wherefore I permitted the good alabarch in all innocence to go in his magisterial robes to the proconsul's mansion and express his indignation, concern and anxious hopes, and to say that Agrippa had taken advantage of favorable winds to depart for Rome. I can see the smoldering eyes of the proconsul study the white old face of that perfect diplomat and discover no guile thereon. So apparent the alabarch's sincerity, that after due lapse of time in which the proconsul plucked up courage and front, Flaccus resumed his visits to the alabarch's house. And for all outward signs, it was another and not Agrippa that dinted the Roman's chest!"

Marsyas leaned his elbows on his knees and a line appeared between his level brows, marking the growing change from the thought of youth to the thought of man.

"Lady," he said gravely, after a pause, "it was Flaccus and not Agrippa that did the bloodthirsty deeds back of the Temple of Rannu; and it was I--and not Agrippa, that dinted the Roman's chest!"

"What?" she e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, springing up to lay hand on his arm. "Thou!"

"Flaccus led Agrippa into a trap and stabbed him in the back," he went on, "and I struck the blow that laid Flaccus low. And Agrippa was taken aboard his ship that night, with a knife wound between his shoulders, wholly ignorant of the ident.i.ty of his a.s.sailant--until I told him--three days out at sea!"

After a long silence, she said softly:

"And that was thine errand--for Flora!"

Without a tremor he inclined his head in a.s.sent.

"Nay, then," she began again, after another pause, "what more dost thou know? How much of this tale thou heardest so deceitfully is incorrect history?"

"Enough of Flaccus," he parried, smiling. "Tell me of--Cla.s.sicus."

Junia leaned back in her chair and laughed a little at his evasion.

"Cla.s.sicus? Cla.s.sicus is a knave, one lacking invention, but not executive ability--wanting cunning, not courage. Now he leads us to believe that he examines a new religion--that same heresy for which he plunged thee into the Rhacotis peril. Some one put him up to it--mark me. Thus, he hopes to recant his fault against thee, for which the little Lysimachus was most unbending to him!"

"And Lydia?" he asked in a low tone.

Her softened eyes, steadily contemplating the yellow light on the leaves of a huge plantain growing near her, narrowed.

"Lydia?" she repeated thoughtfully. "Oh, Lydia dances and studies and makes ready for her marriage with Cla.s.sicus."

One of those utter silences fell, which mark the announcement of critical news. After it, Marsyas arose.

"I have profited by my visit," he said, in that soft and silken voice which she had never heard before and did not understand. "I thank thee for thy counsel--and thy news."

He extended her his hand, and she looked at him, feeling that it was not steady.

"And thou wilt come again before I go?" she went on. "We are summoned to Capri where my father hath been recently made a minister to Tiberius. Come again, and let me lead thee back to thine old self."

"Perchance," he said evenly, "I have uselessly troubled myself to change."

He pressed her hand and pa.s.sed out.

At the threshold of her portals, he met Agrippa.

"Perpol!" the prince cried. "Hast thou supplanted me here, too?"

But Marsyas smiled painfully and went on. Agrippa looked after him.

"Nay, now: the boy is as pale as ivory!" he ruminated. "That is an honest youth, and Junia must let him alone."

CHAPTER XXIII

A LETTER AND A LOSS

When Agrippa returned to his house that night, he found old Silas sitting in the vestibule, opposite the place of the atriensis, his hands on his knees, his dull face uncommonly animated and expressive.

It was long past the hour when the household servants had retired, and the porter at the door was drowsy, but the instant Agrippa set foot on his threshhold Silas started up and bowed in excitement.

"An evil day," he said. "Thy wardrobe hath been entered and much fine raiment is gone."

"But thou hast made an evil night of it, Silas: thou shouldst have withheld thy calamitous recital until the morning. Hast discovered the thief?"

Silas bowed again. "I have: yet, I have been restrained from taking him."

"O pliable Jew! None but Caesar can steal my wardrobe unmolested. Who protects the thief?"

"Marsyas."

"What! Marsyas? Save thou art too unimaginative to be a fictionist I should say thou makest thy story. Why does Marsyas protect my pillager?"

"He says we are well rid of the knave."

"Not if he carried off so much as a sandal-lace. I am a Jew and therefore jealous for my own property. Marsyas, as an Essene, is given to dividing without protest with thieves. I remember the Greek who helped himself to Marsyas' patrimony on Olivet. But who is the thief?"

"Eutychus."

"Eutychus! By Hermes, he could not help it with that face! But go on; what is the circ.u.mstance?"

"He took," Silas continued, "the umber toga, embroidered with silver, much of thy Jewish vestments, the gazelle wallet which contained thy amulet, and drachmae and bracelets of gold. He is rich!"

"Of a surety: the knave hath only the more attached himself to me.