"But our father will not come again," urged the child. "Did I not hear them say, 'The Jew is dead'? Come!" "I will not believe it until Dion returns and tells me with his own lips. They will not, they dare not kill my father. Besides, I have given the Greek my word." "Your word to a Greek! What is there in that?" "True, only my word to a Greek! To a Greek! Then let us go for your sake, child." She followed the blind boy as he darted across the court to the door which opened into the servants' apartment, and thence into the cellar. At the entrance she stopped. "Nay, child, I cannot go. I have given him my word." "Trust not the Greek," cried Caleb. "He will not come back. He dare not if he would. They would kill him if he befriended us or our father. But hark!" The blind boy stood in an attitude of listening. Then he cried excitedly, "Aye! He comes. I hear Captain Dion's voice in the street. He has turned the corner--now he is at the door." Dion stood before them. For a little he was speechless, as if the words he would speak were too cruel to utter. He did not even lift his eyes to the young woman's face. "Do not speak, sir!" said Deborah. "I know it all. My father has been slain by your people." "Nay, not slain," replied the Greek. "Your father's God has taken him. As Zeus lives--as Jehovah lives--Elkiah died as only the greatest and best of men can die; no hand struck the blow. On the steps of the altar of his God he himself gave up his life. The gods take the breath of such men with a kiss." Deborah bowed herself upon the pavement. "Aye, he was a sacrifice. Oh, my father!" Then she rose. Her eyes seemed to see the ascended spirit as she said slowly: "Now I swear by thy white locks--by the altar of thy broken heart! I, too, will be a sacrifice!" The Greek was paralyzed by the sense of his helplessness to say or do anything to mitigate the woman's woe. Though he knew not what it meant, he knew that there was a tragedy in her heart as real as the one that had just occurred at the Temple. Dion lingered to offer--what? Comfort? Help? Perhaps he acted simply from the instinct by which noble natures wait to give themselves to others for whatever may be needed. One thing he could do. "Your father shall have honorable interment. I have secured from Apollonius the order that he be buried in the sepulchre of his fathers. With your brother's sickness and the hazard to your life and that of Caleb, I ask your permission that I may be his mourner." "My thanks, good sir. And my father's God will bless you." Still Dion lingered, until Deborah herself said: "Captain Dion, you must go away. This house is no place for a Greek." "Nay, it is the place for such a Greek as I. Let me help you. Tell me your desire, and it shall be done."