Pearl-Maiden: Chapter 27

Chapter 27

THE BISHOP CYRIL

On the morning following the day of the Triumph Julia, the wife of
Gallus, was seated in her bed-chamber looking out at the yellow waters
of the Tiber that ran almost beneath its window. She had risen at dawn
and attended to the affairs of her household, and now retired to rest
and pray. Mingled with the Roman crowd on the yesterday she had seen
Miriam, whom she loved, marching wearily through the streets of Rome.
Then, able to bear no more, she went home, leaving Gallus to follow the
last acts of the drama. About nine o'clock that night he joined her and
told her the story of the sale of Miriam for a vast sum of money, since,
standing in the shadow beyond the light of the torches, he had been a
witness of the scene at the slave-market. Domitian had been outbid, and
their Pearl-Maiden was knocked down to an old woman with a basket on
her back who looked like a witch, after which she vanished with her
purchaser. That was all he knew for certain. Julia thought it little
enough, and reproached her husband for his stupidity in not learning
more. Still, although she seemed to be vexed, at heart she rejoiced.
Into whoever's hand the maid had fallen, for a while at least she had
escaped the vile Domitian.

Now, as she sat and prayed, Gallus being abroad to gather more tidings
if he could, she heard the courtyard door open, but took no notice
of it, thinking that it was but the servant who returned from market.
Presently, however, as she knelt, a shadow fell upon her and Julia
looked up to see Miriam, none other than Miriam, and with her a
dark-skinned, aged woman, whom she did not know.

"How come you here?" she gasped.

"Oh! mother," answered the girl in a low and thrilling voice, "mother,
by the mercy of God and by the help of this Nehushta, of whom I have
often told you, and--of another, I am escaped from Domitian, and return
to you free and unharmed."

"Tell me that story," said Julia, "for I do not understand. The thing
sounds incredible."

So Miriam told her tale. When it was done, Julia said:

"Heathen though he is, this Marcus must be a noble-hearted man, whom may
Heaven reward."

"Yes," answered Miriam with a sigh, "may Heaven reward him, as I wish I
might."

"As you would have done had I not stayed you," put in Nehushta. Her
voice was severe, but as she spoke something that Julia took to be a
smile was seen for an instant on her grim features.

"Well, friend, well," said Julia, "we have all of us fallen into
temptation from time to time."

"Pardon me, lady," answered Nehushta, "but speak for yourself. I never
fell into any temptation--from a man. I know too much of men."

"Then, friend," replied Julia, "return thanks for the good armour of
your wisdom. For my part, I say that, like the lord Marcus, this maid
has acted well, and my prayer is that she also may not lose her reward."

"Mine is," commented Nehushta, "that Marcus may escape the payment which
he will doubtless receive from the hand of Domitian if he can hunt him
out," a remark at which the face of Miriam grew very troubled.

Just then Gallus returned, and to him the whole history had to be told
anew.

"It is wonderful," he said, "wonderful! I never heard the like of it.
Two people who love each other and who, when their hour comes, separate
over some question of faith, or rather in obedience to a command laid
upon one of them by a lady who died years and years ago. Wonderful--and
I hope wise, though had I been the man concerned I should have taken
another counsel."

"What counsel, husband?" asked Julia.

"Well--to get away from Rome with the lady as far as possible, and
without more delay than was necessary. It seems to me that under the
circumstances it would have been best for her to consider her scruples
in another land. You see Domitian is not a Christian any more than
Marcus is, and our maid here does not like Domitian and does like
Marcus. No, it is no good arguing the thing is done, but I think that
you Christians might very well add two new saints to your calendar. And
now to breakfast, which we all need after so much night duty."

So they went and ate, but during that meal Gallus was very silent, as
was his custom when he set his brain to work. Presently he asked:

"Tell me, Miriam, did any see you or your companion enter here?"

"No, I think not," she answered, "for as it chanced the door of the
courtyard was ajar and the servant has not yet returned."

"Good," he said. "When she does return I will meet her and send her out
on a long errand."

"Why?" asked his wife.

"Because it is as well that none should know what guests we have till
they are gone again."

"Until they are gone again!" repeated Julia, astonished. "Surely you
would not drive this maid, who has become to us as our daughter, from
your door?"

"Yes, I would, wife, for that dear maid's sake," and he took Miriam's
little hand in his great palm and pressed it. "Listen now," he went on,
"Miriam, the Jewish captive, has dwelt in our care these many months,
has she not, as is known to all, is it not? Well, if any one wants to
find her, where will they begin by looking?"

"Aye! where?" echoed Nehushta.

"Why should any one wish to find her?" asked Julia. "She was bought in
the slave-market for a great price by the lord Marcus, who, of his own
will, has set her at liberty. Now, therefore, she is a free woman whom
none can touch."

"A free woman!" answered Gallus with scorn. "Is any woman free in Rome
upon whom Domitian has set his mind? Surely, you Christians are too
innocent for this world. Peace now, for there is no time to lose. Julia,
do you cloak yourself and go seek that high-priest of yours, Cyril, who
also loves this maid. Tell the tale to him, and say that if he would
save her from great dangers he had best find some secret hiding-place
among the Christians, for her and her companion, until means can be
found to ship them far from Rome. What think you of that plan, my Libyan
friend?"

"I think that it is good, but not good enough," answered Nehushta. "I
think that we had best depart with the lady, your wife, this very hour,
for who can tell how soon the dogs will be laid upon our slot?"

"And what say you, maid Miriam?" asked Gallus.

"I? Oh! I thank you for your thought, and I say--let us hide in any
place you will, even a drain or a stable, if it will save me from
Domitian."

Two hours later, in a humble and densely peopled quarter of the city,
such as in our own day we should call a slum, where folk were employed
making those articles which ministered to the comfort or the luxury of
the more fortunate, a certain master-carpenter known as Septimus was
seated at his mid-day meal in a little chamber above his workshop.
His hands were rough with toil, and the dust of his trade was upon his
garments and even powdered over his long gray beard, so that at first
sight it would not have been easy to recognise in him that Cyril who was
a bishop among the Christians. Yet it was he, one of the foremost of the
Faith in Rome.

A woman entered the room and spoke with him in a low voice.

"The dame Julia, the wife of Gallus, and two others with her?" he said.
"Well, we need fear none whom she brings; lead them hither."

Presently the door opened and Julia appeared, followed by two veiled
figures. He raised his hands to bless her, then checked himself.

"Daughter, who are these?" he said.

"Declare yourselves," said Julia, and at her bidding Miriam and Nehushta
unveiled.

At the sight of Miriam's face the bishop started, then turned to study
that of her companion.

"Who vouches for this woman?" he asked.

"I vouch for myself," answered Nehushta, "seeing that I am a Christian
who received baptism a generation since at the hands of the holy John,
and who stood to pay the price of faith in the arena at C�sarea."

"Is this so?" asked the bishop of Miriam.

"It is so," she answered. "This Libyan was the servant of my
grandmother. She nursed both my mother and myself, and many a time has
saved my life. Have no fear, she is faithful."

"Your pardon," said the bishop with a grave smile and addressing
Nehushta, "but you who are old will know that the Christian who
entertains strangers sometimes entertains a devil." Then he lifted up
his hands and blessed them, greeting them in the name of their Master.

"So, maid Miriam," he said, still smiling, "it would seem that I was no
false prophet, and though you walked in the Triumph and were sold in the
slave-ring--for this much I have heard--still the Angel of the Lord went
with you."

"Father, he went with me," she answered, "and he leads me here."

Then they told him all the tale, and how Miriam sought a refuge from
Domitian. He looked at her, stroking his long beard.

"Is there anything you can do?" he asked. "Anything useful, I mean? But
perhaps that is a foolish question, seeing that women--especially those
who are well-favoured--do not learn a trade."

"I have learnt a trade," answered Miriam, flushing a little. "Once I
was held of some account as a sculptor; indeed I have heard that your
Emperor Nero decreed divine honours to a bust from my hand."

The bishop laughed outright. "The Emperor Nero! Well, the poor madman
has gone to his own place, so let us say no more of him. But I heard of
that bust; indeed I saw it; it was a likeness of Marcus Fortunatus, was
it not, and in its fashion a great work? But our people do not make such
things; we are artisans, not artists."

"The artisan should be an artist," said Miriam, setting her mouth.

"Perhaps, but as a rule he isn't. Do you think that you could mould
lamps?"

"There is nothing I should like better, that is if I am not forced to
copy one pattern," she added as an afterthought.

"Then," said the bishop, "I think, daughter, that I can show you how to
earn a living, where none are likely to seek for you."

Not a hundred paces away from the carpenter's shop where the master
craftsman, Septimus, worked, was another manufactory, in which vases,
basins, lamps, and all such articles were designed, moulded and baked.
The customers who frequented the place, wholesale merchants for the most
part, noted from and after the day of this interview a new workwoman,
who, so far as her rough blouse permitted them to judge, seemed to be
young and pretty, seated in a corner apart, beneath a window by the
light of which she laboured. Later on they observed also, those of them
who had any taste, that among the lamps produced by the factory appeared
some of singular and charming design, so good, indeed, that although the
makers reaped little extra benefit, the middlemen found no difficulty
in disposing of these pieces at a high price. All day long Miriam sat
fashioning them, while old Nehushta, who had learnt something of the
task years ago by Jordan, prepared and tempered the clay and carried the
finished work to the furnace.

Now, though none would have guessed it, in this workshop all the
labourers were Christians, and the product of their toil was cast into
a common treasury on the proceeds of which they lived, taking, each of
them, such share as their elders might decree, and giving the surplus to
brethren who had need, or to the sick. Connected with these shops were
lodging houses, mean enough to look at, but clean within. At the top
of one of them, up three flights of narrow stairs, Miriam and Nehushta
dwelt in a large attic that was very hot when the sun shone on the
roof, and very cold in the bitter winds and rains of winter. In other
respects, however, the room was not unpleasant, since being so high
there were few smells and little noise; also the air that blew in at the
windows was fresh and odorous of the open lands beyond the city.

So there they dwelt in peace, for none came to search for the costly and
beautiful Pearl-Maiden in those squalid courts, occupied by working
folk of the meaner sort. By day they laboured, and at night they rested,
ministering and ministered to in the community of Christian brotherhood,
and, notwithstanding their fears and anxieties for themselves and
another, were happier than they had been for years. So the weeks went
by.

Very soon tidings came to them, for these Christians knew of all that
passed in the great city; also, when they met in the catacombs at night,
as was their custom, especially upon the Lord's Day, Julia gave them
news. From her they learned that they had done wisely to flee her house.
Within three hours of their departure, indeed before Julia had returned
there, officers arrived to inquire whether they had seen anything of the
Jewish captive named Pearl-Maiden, who had been sold in the Forum on the
previous night, and, as they said, escaped from her purchaser, on whose
behalf they searched. Gallus received them, and, not being a Christian,
lied boldly, vowing that he had seen nothing of the girl since he gave
her over into the charge of the servants of C�sar upon the morning
of the Triumph. So suspecting no guile they departed and troubled his
household no more.

From the palace of Domitian Marcus was taken to his prison near the
Temple of Mars. Here, because of his wealth and rank, because also he
made appeal to C�sar and was therefore as yet uncondemned of any crime,
he found himself well treated. Two good rooms were given him to live in,
and his own steward, Stephanus, was allowed to attend him and provide
him with food and all he needed. Also upon giving his word that he would
attempt no escape, he was allowed to walk in the gardens between the
prison and the Temple, and to receive his friends at any hour of the
day. His first visitor was the chamberlain, Saturius, who began by
condoling with him over his misfortune and most undeserved position.
Marcus cut him short.

"Why am I here?" he asked.

"Because, most noble Marcus, you have been so unlucky as to incur the
displeasure of a very powerful man."

"Why does Domitian persecute me?" he asked again.

"How innocent are you soldiers!" said the chamberlain. "I will answer
your question by another. Why do you buy beautiful captives upon whom
royalty chances to have set its heart?"

Marcus thought a moment, then said, "Is there any way out of this
trouble?"

"My lord Marcus, I came to show you one. Nobody really believes that you
of all men failed in your duty out there in Jerusalem. Why, the thing
is absurd, as even those carpet-captains before whom you were tried knew
well. Still, your position is most awkward. There is evidence against
you--of a sort. Vespasian will not interfere, for he is aware that this
is some private matter of Domitian's, and having had one quarrel with
his son over the captive, Pearl-Maiden, he does not wish for another
over the man who bought her. No, he will say--this prefect was one of
the friends and officers of Titus, let Titus settle the affair as it may
please him when he returns."

"At least Titus will do me justice," said Marcus.

"Yes, without doubt, but what will that justice be? Titus issued an
edict. Have you ever known him to go back upon his edicts, even to save
a friend? Titus declared throughout his own camps those Romans who were
taken prisoner by the Jews to be worthy of death or disgrace, and two of
them, common men and cowards, have been publicly disgraced in the eyes
of Rome. You were taken prisoner by the Jews and have returned alive,
unfortunately for yourself, to incur the dislike of Domitian, who has
raked up a matter that otherwise never would have been mooted."

"Now," he says to Titus--"Show justice and no favour, as you showed in
the case of the captive Pearl-Maiden, whom you refused to the prayer
of your only brother, saying that she must be sold according to your
decree. Even if he loves you dearly, as I believe he does, what, my lord
Marcus, can Titus answer to that argument, especially as he also seeks
no further quarrel with Domitian?"

"You said you came to show me a way to safety--yet you tell me that my
feet are set in the path of disgrace and death. Must this way of yours,
then, be paved with gold?"

"No," answered Saturius drily, "with pearls. Oh! I will be plain. Give
up that necklace--and its wearer. What do you answer?"

Now Marcus understood, and a saying that he heard on the lips of Miriam
arose in his mind, though he knew not whence it came.

"I answer," he said with set face and flashing eyes, "that I will not
cast pearls before swine."

"A pretty message from a prisoner to his judge," replied the chamberlain
with a curious smile. "But have no fear, noble Marcus, it shall not
be delivered. I am not paid to tell my royal master the truth. Think
again."

"I have thought," answered Marcus. "I do not know where the maiden is
and therefore cannot deliver her to Domitian, nor would I if I could.
Rather will I be disgraced and perish."

"I suppose," mused Saturius, "that this is what they call true love,
and to speak plainly," he added with a burst of candour, "I find it
admirable and worthy of a noble Roman. My lord Marcus, my mission has
failed, yet I pray that the Fates may order your deliverance from
your enemies, and, in reward for these persecutions, bring back to you
unharmed that maiden whom you desire, but whom I go to seek. Farewell."

Two days later Stephanus, the steward of Marcus who waited upon him in
his prison, announced that a man who said his name was Septimus wished
speech with him, but would say nothing of his business.

"Admit him," said Marcus, "for I grow weary of my own company," and
letting his head fall upon his hand he stared through the bars of his
prison window.

Presently he heard a sound behind him, and looked round to see an old
man clad in the robe of a master-workman, whose pure and noble face
seemed in a strange contrast to his rough garments and toil-scarred
hands.

"Be seated and tell me your business," said Marcus courteously, and with
a bow his visitor obeyed.

"My business, my lord Marcus," he said in an educated and refined voice,
"is to minister to those who are in trouble."

"Then, sir, your feet have led you aright," answered Marcus with a
sad laugh, "for this is the house of trouble and you see I am its
inhabitant."

"I know, and I know the cause."

Marcus looked at him curiously. "Are you a Christian, sir?" he asked.
"Nay, do not fear to answer; I have friends who are Christians," and he
sighed, "nor could I harm you if I would, who wish to harm none, least
of all a Christian."

"My lord Marcus, I fear hurt at no man's hand; also the days of Nero
have gone by and Vespasian reigns, who molests us not. I am Cyril, a
bishop of the Christians in Rome, and if you will hear me I am come to
preach to you my faith, which, I trust, may yet be yours."

Marcus stared at the man; it was to him a matter of amazement that this
priest should take so much trouble for a stranger. Then a thought struck
him and he asked:

"What fee do you charge for these lessons in a new religion?"

The bishop's pale face flushed.

"Sir," he answered, "if you wish to reject my message, do it without
insult. I do not sell the grace of God for lucre."

Again Marcus was impressed.

"Your pardon," he said, "yet I have known priests take money, though it
is true they were never of your faith. Who told you about me?"

"One, my lord Marcus, to whom you have behaved well," answered Cyril
gravely.

Marcus sprang from his seat.

"Do you mean--do you mean--?" he began and paused, looking round him
fearfully.

"Yes," replied the bishop in a whisper, "I mean Miriam. Fear not, she
and her companions are in my charge, and for the present, safe. Seek to
know no more, lest perchance their secret should be wrung from you. I
and her brethren in the Lord will protect her to the last."

Marcus began to pour out his thanks.

"Thank me not," interrupted Cyril, "for what is at once my duty and my
joy."

"Friend Cyril," said Marcus, "the maid is in great danger. I have just
learned that Domitian's spies hunt through Rome to find her, who, when
she is found, will be spirited to his palace and a fate that you can
guess. She must escape from Rome. Let her fly to Tyre, where she has
friends and property. There, if she lies hid a while, she will be
molested by none."

The bishop shook his head.

"I have thought of it," he said, "but it is scarcely possible. The
officers at every port have orders to search all ships that sail with
passengers, and detain any woman on them who answers to the description
of her who was called Pearl-Maiden. This I know for certain, for I also
have my officers, more faithful perhaps than those of C�sar," and he
smiled.

"Is there then no means to get her out of Rome and across the sea?"

"I can think of only one, which would cost more money than we poor
Christians can command. It is that a ship be bought in the name of some
merchant and manned with sailors who can be trusted, such as I know how
to find. Then she could be taken aboard at night, for on such a vessel
there would be no right of search nor any to betray."

"Find the ship and trusty men and I will find the money," said Marcus,
"for I still have gold at hand and the means of raising more."

"I will make inquiries," answered Cyril, "and speak with you further on
the matter. Indeed it is not necessary that you should give this money,
since such a ship and her cargo, if she comes there safely, should sell
at a great profit in the Eastern ports. Meanwhile have no fear; in the
protection of God and her brethren the maid is safe."

"I hope so," said Marcus devoutly. "Now, if you have the time to spare,
tell me of this God of whom you Christians speak so much but who seems
so far away from man."

"But who, in the words of the great apostle, my master, in truth is
not far from any one of us," answered Cyril. "Now hearken, and may your
heart be opened."

Then he began his labour of conversion, reasoning till the sun sank and
it was time for the prison gates to close.

"Come to me again," said Marcus as they parted, "I would hear more."

"Of Miriam or of my message?" asked Cyril with a smile.

"Of both," answered Marcus.

Four days went by before Cyril returned. They were heavy days for
Marcus, since on the morrow of the bishop's visit he had learned that
as Saturius had foretold, Vespasian refused to consider his case, saying
that it must abide the decision of Titus when he came back to Rome.
Meanwhile, he commanded that the accused officer should remain in
prison, but that no judgment should issue against him. Here, then,
Marcus was doomed to lie, fretting out his heart like a lion in a cage.

From Cyril Marcus learned that Miriam was well and sent him her
greetings, since she dared neither visit him nor write. The bishop told
him also that he had found a certain Grecian mariner, Hector by name,
a Roman citizen, who was a Christian and faithful. This man desired
to sail for the coasts of Syria and was competent to steer a vessel
thither. Also he thought that he could collect a crew of Christians and
Jews who might be trusted. Lastly, he knew of several small galleys that
were for sale, one of which, named the _Luna_, was a very good ship and
almost new. Cyril told him, moreover, that he had seen Gallus and his
wife Julia, and that these good people, having no more ties in Rome,
partly because they desired to leave the city, and partly for love of
Miriam, though more the second reason than the first, were willing to
sell their house and goods and to sail with her to Syria.

Marcus asked how much money would be needed, and when Cyril named the
sum, sent for Stephanus and commanded him to raise it and to pay it
over to the craftsman Septimus, taking his receipt in discharge. This
Septimus promised to do readily enough by a certain day, believing that
the gold was needed for his master's ransom. Then having settled all as
well as might be, Cyril took up his tale and preached to Marcus of the
Saviour of the world with great earnestness and power.

Thus the days went on, and twice or thrice in every week Cyril visited
Marcus, giving him tidings and instructing him in the Faith. Now the
ship _Luna_ was bought and the most of her crew hired; also a cargo of
such goods as would be salable in Syria was being laid into her hold at
Ostia, the Greek, Hector, giving it out that this was a private venture
of his own and some other merchants. As the man was well known for
a bold trader who had bought and sold in many lands his tale caused
neither wonder nor suspicion, none knowing that the capital was
furnished by the steward of the prisoner Marcus through him who passed
as the master craftsman and contractor Septimus. Indeed, until the after
days Miriam did not know this herself, for it was kept from her by the
special command of Marcus, and if Nehushta guessed the truth she held
her tongue.

Two full months had gone by. Marcus still languished in prison, for
Titus had not yet returned to Rome, but as he learned from Cyril,
Domitian wearied somewhat of his fruitless search for Miriam, although
he still vowed vengeance against the rival who had robbed him. The ship
_Luna_ was laden and ready for sea; indeed, if the wind and weather
were favourable, she was to sail within a week. Gallus and Julia, having
wound up their affairs, had removed to Ostia, whither Miriam was to be
brought secretly on the night of the sailing of the _Luna_. Marcus was
now at heart a Christian, but as yet had refused to accept baptism. Thus
matters stood when Cyril visited the prison bringing with him Miriam's
farewell message to her lover. It was very short.

"Tell Marcus," she said, "that I go because he bids me, and that I know
not whether we shall meet again. Say that perhaps it is best that we
should not meet, since for reasons which he knows, even if he should
still wish it, we may not marry. Say that in life or death I am his, and
his only, and that until my last hour my thought and prayer will be for
him. May he be delivered from all those troubles which, as I fear, I
have brought upon him, through no will of mine. May he forgive me for
them and let my love and gratitude make some amends for all that I have
done amiss."

To this Marcus answered: "Tell Miriam that from my heart I thank her for
her message, and that my desire is that she should be gone from Rome so
soon as may be, since here danger dogs her steps. Tell her that although
it is true that mine has brought me shame and sorrow, still I give her
love for love, and that if I come living from my prison I will follow
her to Tyre and speak further of these matters. If I die, I pray that
good fortune may attend her and that from time to time she will make the
offering of an hour's thought to the spirit which once was Marcus."

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