Look, look, she faints." Groaning in bitterness of spirit they watched Miriam, who seemed about to fall.

Now a woman gave her the cup of wine, and drinking she recovered herself.
"Note that woman," muttered Marcus, "that I may reward her." "It is needless," answered Nehushta, "she seeks no reward." "She is more than a Roman, she is a Christian.

As she passed it she made a sign of the cross with the cup." The waggons creaked; the officers shouted; the procession moved forward.
From behind the curtain the pair kept their eyes fixed upon Miriam until she vanished in the dust and crowd.

When she had gone they seemed to see little else; even the sight of the glorious Caesars could not hold their eyes.
Marcus summoned the steward, Stephanus.
"Go forth," he said, "and discover when and where the captive Pearl-Maiden is to be sold.

Then return to me swiftly.