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Antiochus was already married to Laodice, whom he loved dearly, and by whom he had two children, Seleucus and Antiochus; but political ambition had deadened the feelings of his heart, and he agreed to declare this first marriage void and his two sons illegitimate, and that his children, if any should be born to him by Berenicê, should inherit the throne of Babylon and the East.
The greater the congeniality, the greater the attraction, she argued; but behold, was this iron Hesper, the man of all force, to be dashed and shaken by the rich loveliness of Laodice, who was simply a woman? "Such attachments do not last," she argued hopefully. "Such attachments make unfaithful husbands. They are monotonous and wearisome.
Amaryllis turned to Laodice. "What wilt thou do?" she asked. "The streets can offer me no more insult than is offered me in this house," she said slowly. It was in her mind that there were certainly unprotected gates at which she could get out of the city and return to Ascalon. At least the peril for her in this house was already too imminent for her to remain longer.
The servitor reappeared with his master's cloak and kerchief. After him came Keturah, the handmaiden, and Hiram, a camel-driver, prepared for a journey. The mute Momus presently appeared. Costobarus got into his cloak without help, made inquiry for this detail and that of his business and of his journey, gave instruction to his attendants, and then asked for Laodice.
Laodice recalled that she had not been surprised to see the man throw Amaryllis aside. It seemed to be the logical outcome of love such as theirs. How, then, was she to escape that which no other woman escaped who loved without law? In the soul of that stranger who had called himself Hesper, were lofty ideals, which had not been the least charm which had attracted her to him.
You do not know about shepherds," he added. Laodice thought that she detected tactful inquiry in his last remark and roused herself painfully to make due explanations to her host. But he waved his hands at her, with the desert-man's courtesy which covers fine points better than the greater ones.
"For there shall arise false Christs; and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect," he said sorrowfully. The horror of the city augmented hour by hour. The Jerusalem Laodice locked upon now was infinitely more afflicted than the one she had seen in the daylight days before.
But almost the next instant Momus drew up his mount so suddenly that Laodice was roused. He turned and began to make rapid signs. Laodice half rose as she read them and pressed her hands together. "Seven days!" she exclaimed in dismay. There was silence. Momus made the camel kneel. He dismounted slowly, and began to undo the tent-cloth in a roll beside the howdah.
"He can not see that our lady does anything but collect curiosities in this her search after art, and so he must needs add a contribution in this Stygian monster we saw yesterday evening." Laodice knew that they discussed Momus. "Perhaps," the athlete said, "he bought this left-handed catapult thinking he might throw the discus farther than I can throw it."
"How, then," Costobarus asked, with a keen look, "came Philadelphus to appoint you to conduct Laodice to the city?" "His retinue is small; he could not come himself, and he chose me as safer than the other member of his party," was the direct reply. Costobarus studied this reply before he questioned his son-in-law's courier further. "Jerusalem, they say, is in disorder.
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