"Come in good time, however hither called," Felix to Julius said, with such a tone As seemed to ask how he was thither called. "Thy servant Syrus begged that I would come," Said Julius, "for the safety of thy house Endangered by two women and a boy, Who had found entrance and were threatening thee." In truth, that sly young slave of Felix's-- For reason ill-affected toward his lord, As much enamored of the Christian folk For their fair manners, and the comely looks Of some of them, and the beneficent Working of wonders seen or heard from Paul-- Had summoned Julius in the true behoof Of Ruth with her Eunicé and of Stephen; This, shrewdly under guise of service shown His master. Julius understood the guile And humored it, while Felix's thick wits Spread ample cover to render Syrus safe. "Of course," so Julius added, "it had not seemed Needful to come, but that I also heard A prisoner of my charge would here be found, For whose safe keeping I am answerable." Then glancing in a kindly neutral way At Stephen, he, with show of grave rebuke That could not wholly hide his lively sense Of whimsical humor in the part he played As mediator in such case, went on: "This Hebrew youth confesses that, in haste Of spirit, he offered thee some disrespect." With language purposely made light and vague Thus the centurion glozed Stephen's offence, Discreetly shunning to let Felix know That _he_ knew from the offender's own report How, for good cause, as to a happy end, The indignant youth inflicted on him there The shame and anguish of that timely blow. "What wilt thou, my lord Felix," Julius asked, "Wilt thou forgive the lad outright? Or pleasest Thou rather _I_ condignly deal with him?" It was astutely so proposed, to save Appearances _to_ Felix and _for_ him. Gross-witted as he was, he yet was proud, And such end of the incident appeared At once some homage to his dignity And an escape unhoped from threatened shame. He condescended loftily to leave The case of Stephen in the centurion's hands; And the centurion presently retired With Paul and Stephen both. Stephen he bade See to it that he never thenceforth act Less worthily of himself than he that day Had done, and with no other reprimand Dismissed him to rejoin his company. As for Drusilla, she now had her proof; And seeing his purpose prosper Simon was glad. BOOK XVI. INTERLUDE OF KRISHNA.