“Saturius,” said Domitian, growing interested, “you are not so foolish as I thought you were.  Decidedly that trouble last night has quickened your wits.  Be so good as to stop wriggling your shoulders, will you, it makes me nervous, and I wish that you would have that eye of yours painted.  You know that I cannot bear the sight of black; it reminds me, who am by nature joyous and light-hearted as a child, of melancholy things.  Now forge a letter for my, or rather for your signature, promising the reversion of Pearl-Maiden to this Demetrius.  Then bear my greetings to Titus, begging his signature to an order granting the desired privileges to one Caleb, a Jew who fought against him at Jerusalem—­with less success than I could have wished—­whom I desire to favour.”

Three hours later Saturius presented himself for the second time in the office of the Alexandrian merchant.

“Most worthy Demetrius,” he said, “I congratulate you.  Everything has been arranged as you wish.  Here is the order, signed by Titus and duly witnessed, granting to you—­I mean to your friend, Caleb—­pardon for whatever he may have done in Judaea, and permission to live and trade anywhere that he may wish within the bounds of the Empire.  I may tell you that it was obtained with great difficulty, since Titus, worn out with toil and glory, leaves this very day for his villa by the sea, where he is ordered by his physicians to rest three months, taking no part whatever in affairs.  Does the document satisfy you?”

Caleb examined the signatures and seals.

“It seems to be in order,” he said.

“It is in order, excellent Demetrius.  Caleb can now appear in the Forum, if it pleases him, and lecture upon the fall of Jerusalem for the benefit of the vulgar.  Well, here also is a letter from the divine—­or rather the half divine—­Domitian to yourself, Demetrius of Alexandria, also witnessed by myself and sealed.  It promises to you that if you give evidence enabling him to arrest that miscreant who dared to bid against him—­no, do not be alarmed, the lady was not knocked down to you—­you shall be allowed to take possession of her or to buy her at a reasonable valuation, not to exceed fifteen sestertia.  That is as much as she will fetch now in the open market.  Are you satisfied with this document?”

Caleb read and scrutinised the letter.

“The signatures of Domitian and of yourself as witness seem much alike,” he remarked suspiciously.

“Somewhat,” replied Saturius, with an airy gesture.  “In royal houses it is customary for chamberlains to imitate the handwriting of their imperial masters.”

“And their morals—­no, they have none—­their manners also,” commented Caleb.

“At the least,” went on Saturius, “you will acknowledge the seals——­”

“Which might be borrowed.  Well, I will take the risk, for if there is anything wrong about these papers I am sure that the prince Domitian would not like to see them exhibited in a court of law.”