Syrus was sorry he had gone so far; Yet loyalty to Jesus and to Paul Wrought in him, and, supported as it was With instinct of unquenchable revolt From Felix and Drusilla both alike, Buoyed him and kept him firm in that assay. "Yea, madam," he replied, "I have a lord, Christ Jesus, crucified once, but alive Now and ascended far above all height By the right hand of God in heaven set down." 'That is of Paul, that surely is of Paul!' Drusilla reasoned; then, with threatening brow, To Syrus: "Whence these things to thee? The truth-- Thou hast heard Paul, and learned such lies from him?" "I have heard Paul, yea, madam, and have learned From him such truth as makes me true to thee Beyond what ever I had been before." "Aye, aye, no doubt," Drusilla, musing, sneered. A light broke in upon her mind; she said: "That precious runaway, Onesimus, He, I suppose, heard Paul, and got himself Puffed up with these same notions of a lord In heaven, which set him feeling free of us. Tell me, what knowest thou of Onesimus? Did he hear Paul? Where is he now? Tell me, Thou rogue, for verily I believe thou knowest." Shrewd as he was, Syrus conceived a hope, A sudden simple hope that if the truth, The beautiful mere truth, were told her now, Drusilla, yea, Drusilla even, would feel Its power. So he rehearsed the history, How that Onesimus, induced by Paul, Had gone back to his master at Colossæ; How that his master, for the love of Paul Who had erst won him to the love of Jesus, Had bidden Onesimus return to Rome There in his stead to minister to Paul; How that Onesimus had gladly come, And was that moment gratefully with Paul. Drusilla listened, but she gave no sign; She had in truth been listening absently, Absorbedly considering what fresh proof To purpose against Paul perhaps was here. She said to Syrus: "Aye, a pretty tale To entertain thy mistress' ear withal! Why never can you people tell the truth? You always seem to think you must contrive Some falsehood, though the truth would better serve. Well, well, it is your way. But now, my lad, Be ready, when thy master to his bath Shall presently repair, bring me prompt word. An errand I shall have for thee to him That as thou lovest him thou wilt love to do."