"Otherwise how could he allow such an absurd attempt to clear an accused thief to affect him so deeply, or disturb his temper ?" Paula's arrival presently put an end to Orion's pacing the room.

He received her with a respectful bow and signed to her to be seated.
Then he bid Nilus recapitulate the results of the proceedings up to the present stage, and what he and his colleagues supposed to be her motive for asserting that the stolen emerald was her property.

He would as far as possible leave it to the others to question her, since she knew full well on what terms she was with himself.

Even before he had come into the council-room she had offered her explanation of the robbery to Nilus, through her nurse Perpetua; but it would have seemed fairer and more friendly in his eyes--and here he raised his voice--if she had chosen to confide to him, Orion, her plan for helping the freedman.

Then he might have been able to warn her.