"Perhaps," growled Jochem, "we shall fly over them, like the birds of the air. For the last time, Miriam, I ask thee: Wilt thou leave this old man and the cursed Christian? I tell thee the ruins of these walls will soon cover them. I know that thou hast taken the Goth to thy heart; but that I will forgive thee if only thou wilt be my wife." And again he tried to take her hand. "Thou wilt forgive me my love? Forgive what stands as high above thee as the sun above the creeping worm? Should I be worthy to look upon his face if I could become thy wife? Away! begone!" "Ha!" cried Jochem, "too much! too much! My wife! Never shalt thou be my wife; but thou shalt struggle in my arms, and I will tear the Christian out of thy bleeding heart as it withers in despair! Thou shalt see me again!" And he left the room, and soon disappeared from the precincts of the city. Miriam, oppressed by anxious thoughts, hurried into the open air. She felt that she must pray; but not in the close synagogue. She would pray for _him_, and she would pray to _his_ God. She shyly ventured into the neighbouring Basilica of St. Maria, whence, in peaceful times, the Jewess had often been driven with curses. But now the Christians had no time to curse. She crouched in a dark corner of the chancel, and soon forgot herself, the city, and the world, in fervent prayer. She was alone with _him_ and with God. Meanwhile, the last hour of the armistice was drawing to a close. The sun already declined to the surface of the sea. The Goths repaired and filled up the breaches of the walls with all diligence, carried away the rubbish and the dead, and extinguished the fires. For the third time the sands of the hour-glass ran out, while Belisarius, in front of his tent and surrounded by his generals, was awaiting the signal of capitulation from the Castle of Tiberius. "I don't believe in it," whispered Johannes to Procopius. "He who gives such blows as I have seen given by that old man will never surrender. And it is better so; then there will be a famous storming, and afterwards a famous plundering." Earl Uliaris now appeared upon the ramparts of the castle, and hurled his spear defiantly among the waiting sentries. Belisarius sprang up. "The fools desire their own destruction! Well, they shall be gratified. Up, generals! to the attack! Whoever is the first to plant our standard on the walls shall have a tenth part of the booty!" The leaders hurried away on all sides, spurred by avarice and ambition. Johannes was just turning the ruined arch of an aqueduct, which Belisarius had destroyed in order to deprive the besieged of water, when he heard a low voice calling his name. It was already so dark that he with difficulty recognised the man who had spoken. "What do you want, Jew!" asked Johannes. "I have no time to lose. There is hard work to be done. I must be the first into the city." "That you shall be, and without hard work, if you will follow me."