"Sell not thyself to Caesar," Peter cried, flinging up his hands. "It is forbidden!" "I shall not sell myself," Marsyas said. "I have come only to find how to value my services." "Whom dost thou serve?" the old man demanded. Marsyas was not ready to disclose his identity. "A Roman. Peace and the continuance of good fortune be thine." He bowed and passed out of the counting-room. The usurer stood a moment, then summoned his servants, and, getting himself into street dress, hastened to follow the young man. Marsyas turned his steps toward the house in the suburbs. There were several torches about the painted gate in the wall and the light shone on a group alighting from a curricle. Cypros and her children had returned from the city, and Agrippa had come forth to receive them. Marsyas joined the group and Peter's lectica was borne up to the circle of radiance under the torches. The old man's eyes filled with wrath when he recognized Agrippa. He stood up and surveyed him with scorn. "A Roman!" he scoffed. "A Roman, only to add the vices of the race to the meanness of a Herod! Back to my house, slaves! We have taken profitless pains!" Agrippa's anger leaped into his face and Marsyas pursued and overtook the litter. "Thy pardon, sir," he began. "I have a right to attach thee for the talent thy master owes me," Peter stormed. "Peace, good sir! I am not a slave." Peter chewed his mustache impotently, but the young Essene dropped his Greek and spoke in Hebrew, the language of the synagogue, the true badge of Judaism. "Perchance we may bargain together. Wouldst have me for hire?" Peter smoldered in sulky silence. "I can not serve longer without compensation," Marsyas pursued. "What sum in hire?" Peter demanded. "Twenty thousand drachmae--" Peter blazed, but Marsyas stopped his invective with a motion. "Nay, peace! I have not finished. Twenty thousand drachmae in loan to Agrippa, and I will serve thee gratis till he redeems me by paying the principal and the talent he owes." The usurer, with a snort, abruptly ordered the slaves to proceed. The next day, Marsyas, loitering on purpose near the usurer's, was approached by a servant and sent into the presence of Peter. "Hath the bankrupt any hopes?" the money-lender demanded without preliminary. "He goes to Alexandria, for money, and thence to imperial favor in Rome. There is Antonia who will aid him, as thou knowest. Unless thou helpest him to reach either of these two places, he is of a surety bankrupt; wherefore he can never pay thee the talent or even the interest." Peter dismissed him moodily and Marsyas returned to the prince. But the next day Peter appeared at Agrippa's door and was conducted to the prince's presence, where Cypros sat with him and Marsyas waited. The old man made no greeting.