"Go back to the fortress," the young woman answered. "Sometime you will find strangers awaiting you there, also without the password. You will lose Jerusalem trifling with me. I have spoken!" John filliped her ear as he passed through into a corridor which must have led into the Temple precincts. Under the light, Laodice saw that he was a middle-aged Jew, not handsome, but luxuriant with virility. His face showed great ability with no conscience, and force and charm without balance or morals. Here, then, thought Laodice, is the first of Philadelphus' enemies. The idler in the exedra, meanwhile, was awaiting the speech of her visitor. "Art thou she whom I seek?" Laodice asked. "Amaryllis, the Seleucid?" "I am called by that name." "I was bidden," Laodice continued, "by one whom we both know, to seek asylum with thee." "So? Who may that be?" Laodice whispered the name. "Philadelphus Maccabaeus." The Greek's eyes took on a puzzled look. Then she surveyed the girl and as a full conception of the beauty of the young creature before her formed in the Greek's mind, the perplexity left her expression. Her air changed; a subtle smile played about her lips. "He sent you to me for protection?" "Until he arrives in Jerusalem," Laodice assented. "But he is already here." It was the moment that Laodice had avoided fearfully ever since she had gathered from that winsome stranger by the roadside that his companion was her husband. Although, after that fact had been made known to her, she had felt that she ought to join Philadelphus and proceed with him to the Holy City, she had endured the exposure of the hills, the want and discomfort of insufficient supplies and the affronts of wayfarers, that she might spare herself as long as possible her union with the unsafe man who had become even more hateful by comparison with the one who had called himself Hesper. "Perchance thou wilt lead me to him," Laodice said finally. Amaryllis made no immediate answer. It would have been a natural impulse for her to wish to inquire for the girl's business with the man that the Greek as hostess was expected to conceal. But Amaryllis had her own explanation for this visit. It had been plain to less observant eyes than hers that the newly arrived Philadelphus was not delighted with the bride he had met. The Greek summoned a servant. "Go summon thy master, Prisca; and haste. I doubt not I have for him a sweet relief." The woman bowed. "If it please thee, madam, the master is without in the vestibule, returning from the city." Amaryllis signed to the ivory chair before her. "Sit, lady," she said to Laodice. "He will come at once."