After leaving her guardian Hortensius and giving the greater part of her wealth to the poor, she had long lodged with the anchorites to the south of Lake Mareotis, west of the Nile, among the sterile mountains of Libya, in the terrible Nitrian and Sciathian deserts. She had been accompanied by the young Juventinus, the disciple of old Didimus. They had been taught daily by the ascetics. "And then," asked Julian, not without a certain apprehension, "and then, girl, did you find among them what you were seeking for?" She shook her head, and said sadly-- "No. Flashes of light, allusions, hints, as always, elsewhere." "Speak on! Tell me all," implored the Emperor, his eyes brilliant with hope and gratitude. "How can I?" she answered slowly. "For, my friend, I was seeking the freedom of the soul; but it has no existence here!" "Yes, yes! is not that true?" cried Julian, exultant. "That was what I told you, Arsinoë." She seated herself on a stool covered with a leopardskin, and continued her tale calmly, with the same sad smile, Julian listening in an avidity of joy.... * * * * * "Tell me, how did you leave those unhappy desert-folk?" demanded Julian. "I was tempted once," replied Arsinoë; "once in the desert among the rocks I found a fragment of white marble. I picked it up and long wondered at it, sparkling in the sun, and suddenly I remembered Athens, my youth, my art, and you! I awoke, and I decided to return to the world, to live and die as God had created me; as an artist. At that moment the old Didimus had a vision in which I was the means of reconciling you with the Galilean...." "With the Galilean!" ejaculated the Emperor. His face darkened, his eyes lost their fire, the triumphant laugh died on his lips. "Curiosity, too, drew me again towards you," continued Arsinoë. "I wished to know if you had attained truth in the way you pursued, and what summit you had reached. I resumed the habit of a monk. Brother Juventinus and I descended the Nile as far as Alexandria; then a ship took us to Antioch; and we have journeyed with a great Syrian caravan through Apamea, Epiphania, and Edessa to the frontier. After a thousand dangers, we crossed the Mesopotamian desert, abandoned by the Persians, and not far from the village of Abuzat, after the victory at Ctesiphon, we saw your camp. And so I am here!... And you, Julian?" He sighed, and hung his head without answering. Then scanning her, he demanded-- "And now you too detest Him, Arsinoë?"