"Does he still live ?" "Be of good comfort," he answered.

"Benoni reached the house of Mathias in safety, and Caleb also, and now they are sheltering within the Temple walls.

This much I had from one of the high priest's guards, who, for the price of a piece of gold I gave him, swore that he would deliver the letter without fail.

But, child, I will take no more, for that soldier eyed me curiously and said it was scarcely safe for beggars to carry gold." Miriam thanked him for his goodness and his news, saying that they lifted a weight from her heart.
"I have other tidings that may perhaps make it lighter still," went on the old man, looking at her sideways.

"Titus with a mighty host draws near to Jerusalem from Caesarea." "There is no joy in that tale," replied Miriam, "for it means that the Holy City will be besieged and taken." "Nay, but among that host is one who, if all the stories are true," and again he glanced at her face, "would rather take you than the city." "Who ?" she said, pressing her hands against her heart and turning redder than the lamplight.
"One of Titus' prefects of horse, the noble Roman, Marcus, whom in byegone days you knew by the banks of Jordan." Now the red blood fled back to Miriam's heart, and she turned so faint that had not the wall been near at hand she would have fallen.
"Marcus ?" she said.