It was mid-day. Marcus, bathed, anointed, and clad in the robes of his order, was standing in one of the splendid apartments of his marble house, looking through an opening in the shutters at the passing of the Triumph. Presently old Nehushta joined him. She also was clad in clean, white robes which the slave woman had found for her. “Have you any news?” asked Marcus impatiently. “Some, lord, which I have pieced together from what is known by the slave-woman, and by your steward, Stephanus. A beautiful Jewish captive is to walk in the Triumph and afterwards to be sold with other captives in the Forum. They heard of her because it is said that there has been a quarrel between Titus and his brother Domitian, and Vespasian also, on account of this woman.” “A quarrel? What quarrel?” “I, or rather your servants, know little of it, but they have heard that Domitian demanded the girl as a gift, whereon Titus told him that if he wished for her, he might buy her. Then the matter was referred to Vespasian Cæsar, who upheld the decree of Titus. As for Domitian, he went away in a rage, declaring that he would purchase the girl and remember the affront which had been put upon him.” “Surely the gods are against me,” said Marcus, “if they have given me Domitian for a rival.” “Why so, lord? Your money is as good as his, and perhaps you will pay more.” “I will pay to my last piece, but will that free me from the rage and hate of Domitian?” “Why need he know that you were the rival bidder?” “Why? Oh! in Rome everything is known—even the truth sometimes.” “Time enough to trouble when trouble comes. First let us wait and see whether this maid be Miriam.” “Aye,” he answered, “let us wait—since we must.” So they waited and with anxious eyes watched the great show roll by them. They saw the cars painted with scenes of the taking of Jerusalem and the statues of the gods fashioned in ivory and gold. They saw the purple hangings of the Babylonian broidered pictures, the wild beasts, and the ships mounted upon wheels. They saw the treasures of the temple and the images of victory, and many other things, for that pageant seemed to be endless, and still the captives and the Emperors did not come.