antly and many Jews lived thriftily, there were, as natura

charge, "but Peter, the usurer.

ecious metal, and, getting into a simpler garment affected by the steward

fty, the discovery shook him in his respect for the prince, but at the same time a resolution shaped itself in him against the usurers. But, on a certain day, he re

ered his tid

, whose head drooped at the new

d the khans. There might be new-comers

he Adriatic to the Euphrates; but Marsyas did not return to the house in the suburbs that night. The weight

at the name of Agrippa as a bankrupt had not penetrated into the fields he journeyed into the country-side of Syria and tried an oil-merchant, a rustic,

y of hope attracted Marsyas and he met the merchant at the wharves. But the seller of

e house in the suburbs to assure the prince that

; that it was better to speak advisedly than frankly; to lay plans, rather than to wait on events; to use devices rather than persuasion. These things admitted, he discovered that he had unconsc

t the Law was not tender to those who lived as Stephen lived, and died as Stephen died. Not in all that great and holy scroll which the Reader read was there compassion for the blasphemer. Also, he heard of the great plague of persecution which Saul had loosed upon the N

that did not flag at continued failure. He knew that if he obtained the twenty thousand drachm?, he bound Agrippa t

d fruitless. Typically a soldier of fortune,

and take heed of another. Passers pushed and hurried him when he came upon those more busy than he. Sailors, bro

old man within complained aloud and had no audience, except his plodding bearers,

as crying when Mars

ming. His eyes encountered the face of Peter, the usur

g man's notice the old usurer s

in me!"

Thy pardon, sir," he sai

tion had excited him. "They take, and demand more; they waste, and must be replenish

, and the young man having halted

rged, "tell me who

It is a conspiracy between them because I am of lowly birth, and I go from one to another and find no relief! Behold!" He shook out a shawl which had

with his little knowledge of fabri

stion in spite of himself. "Do I overstep my privilege to suggest tha

ould I know that the knavery does

blish thine own booths here

small eyes of the old m

," he muttered. "A

olish. Display them thy power and punish them. Thou art a great usurer; powerful families here are in thy debt. How strong a hand thou h

ngaging picture," he said. "But unl

"Not if the tales of thy

ismissed; but, contrary to custom of that rank which is privileg

e began, "I h

a steward here in Ptolemais. But I have an erran

ssent, but he followed the you

way," Marsyas said to himself

hen, presently, he discovered the old man near a fountain, Marsyas did not attempt to catch his eye. But one of Pe

master?" P

strained a declaration

ho is preparing to

ut thou art a Jew, or the blo

int of other bloo

hy service-serving a

Marsyas quietly, but with an inwar

a Jew," Peter declared. "A Roman's slave, a slav

o longer under the i

, I am no

a hir

unattached and

r love only? Then why not com

ay my price," he

lifted his w

haughtily. "And pray, s

ous remark was on Marsyas' lips, but he halted s

," he said after a silence, and th

art of the city and went straig

ough the west lattice, and the place otherwise solitary. The pr

, and the prince noted the change on th

vows. Yet no man is chafed by a vow except him who finds it hard to keep. Wherefore, I pray thee

raised his

knowledge that I am a Herod

and I shall not stop at sacrifi

thou do, m

thee

battered dodging debts, yet it is still intact e

tand. He added nothing to emphasize his avowal; perhaps he realized at that

oung man spoke

, that I may not a

ered with a lazy smile, "which he advanced

im! How-how is he fa

tle and apes-like beasts. Wherefore, this Peter is voracious, balky, amiable enou

hesitated at his next question, as though up

exandrian will lend thee money?" he asked p

thy lips! Will the Alexandrian lend? Of a surety! And even if not, then will my mother's friend, the noble Antonia, C?sar's sister-in-law. If C?sar had not been so precipitate

anticipated a further

ile as an Alexandrian. I saw him four years ago, here, in Jerusalem, when he brought his wife's remains to bury them on sacred soil. He had with him two sons, one a man, grown, with his father's genius, but without his father's soul; the other a handsome lad of undeveloped character, a

ent once more, an

rve thee no less for love, because I serve thee also for a purpose

rced more truths out of me than any ever achieved before. Cypros will make

it to his lips. Without further word, he went

a steward's place behind a grating of bronze, with lists and coffers about him. Without stood a brown woman, in a strange dress suf

ntly perplexed that Marsyas immediately surmised that they had been s

y that moisture stood out on his wrinkled forehead. His eyes were on the sheep-skin bag; evidently the br

born Syrians boasting a nationality that ye can not prove? Hold! Let her not go forth, good

crowd to the grating, and

laimed. "See if thou canst tell wha

reen as chrysolite, mysterious and hypnotic; the features regular as an Egyptian's, but stronger and more beautiful; the physique ref

he asked in the to

ney for Roman coin,"

turned t

ained. "She wishes to exchange coi

ullion; yet, we pay only its face value, in Roman moneys! Good! I shall melt it, and deliver it

you," Mars

arsyas and the Hindu woman come into the apartment behind the screen. There the exchange was made, and the old usu

rsyas turned

this traffic," he

reply, "I know it. Yet I must hav

of its humble appearance, it was the owne

?. Marsyas, with wistful eyes, saw her put the treasure away in the sheep

effort to hide the nature of her burden. She mad

erchance, one day," sh

threshold, he wavered and ste

ulky buildings of Ptolemais-a profitable victim for some light-footed highw

nd went back into

behind h

usurer demanded, with no li

ter of languages, a doctor of medicines, a scholar

as intentio

ward for l

pay thee a debt long standing,

ated softly. "Is this my fortunate day? Which o

peak," Marsyas replied. "Hast

hat he borrowed a talent o

nce, so

ends him money pitc

But let me trouble thee with a question. What price

nk. A Georgian female captive of much beauty was sol

ving-men," Mars

a physician worth eig

isoning; can he speak many languages; is

er shook

ould I he worth to C?

" Peter cried, flinging up

yas said. "I have come only to

man demanded. Marsyas was not

the continuance of g

ssed out of the

tting himself into street dress, hastened to follow the young

en had returned from the city, and Agrippa had come forth to receive them. Marsyas joined the group and Peter's lectica was borne up to the c

ces of the race to the meanness of a Herod! Back to

his face and Marsyas pursu

on, sir,"

hee for the talent thy mast

sir! I am n

Essene dropped his Greek and spoke in Hebrew, the

rgain together. Woul

ered in sul

er without compensati

n hire?" Pe

thousand

rsyas stopped his in

in loan to Agrippa, and I will serve thee gratis till he r

ort, abruptly ordered

e near the usurer's, was approached by a s

pes?" the money-lender de

will aid him, as thou knowest. Unless thou helpest him to reach either of these two places,

day Peter appeared at Agrippa's door and was conducted to the prince's presen

's sake, whose happy slave I was, I will take thine Essene at

peated in perplexity. But Marsyas, w

o Peter. "The second contract shall be between the prince and myself. B

, less mine interest on

," Marsyas assented,

is feet and gazed

this?"

to my cause," the

ast thou done?" the prince urged, imp

e, and have paid for it

in hostage for us?" Cyp

nted himself in the young man's way, and Cypros in tears slipped

forget," she w

I have redeemed thee," Agri

pair seized the Essene. Trembling he shook

earch of composure, he began to see more clearly the results of his extreme act. He had fixed himself within reach of Vitelli

d forehead and smiled grimly. He had ma