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To proceed to Jerusalem without the Maccabee, with whatever excuse he could invent, would not deliver the dowry of the bride into his hands, in the event that Aquila had not succeeded in his instructions to make way with Laodice before he reached Jerusalem.
A moment later the visitor spoke. It was the little girl who acted as page for the Greek. "Open, lady; it is I, Myrrha." Laodice went to the windows. "Amaryllis sends thee greeting and would speak with thee, in her hall," the girl said. Reluctantly Laodice, who feared the revelation which the light might have to make of her stunned and revolted face, followed the page.
Yet he can not turn her out. The siege hath put an end to your efforts in your own behalf and it is time to face your condition and make the best of it. John feels restive; I dare not ask too much of him. My household was already full, before you came." Laodice was looking at her, now with enlightenment in her face.
"Small wonder that he is so delinquent in the wilderness, with such square-shouldered righteousness awaiting him in town! Forgive him, lady, for his iniquities now, for he will be a good man after he reaches Jerusalem; by my soul, you may be sure he will be good!" Laodice gasped under the pressure of astonishment and indignation.
The Maccabee dashed through the flock and rounding a turn in the road came upon Laodice walking; behind her Momus; at her side was Julian of Ephesus. Immense strain had sharpened their sense of fear until it was as acute as an instinct. Before the sound of the Maccabee's furious approach reached Julian, the Ephesian whirled.
I shall wait till your extraordinary servant returns." At this decided speech Laodice showed a little panic. "No, no! I am not afraid. He " But the Maccabee ignored the implied dismissal. "I owe him both a reproof and thanks for leaving you here alone for any wayfarer to approach and for me to discover.
Under the light, Laodice saw that he was a middle-aged Jew, not handsome, but luxuriant with virility. His face showed great ability with no conscience, and force and charm without balance or morals. Here, then, thought Laodice, is the first of Philadelphus' enemies. The idler in the exedra, meanwhile, was awaiting the speech of her visitor. "Art thou she whom I seek?" Laodice asked.
"I am the man," he was saying aloud, but to himself, "that hath seen affliction by the rod of His wrath." The sight of him had a paralyzing effect upon Laodice. She saw, before her, Nathan, the Christian, who had buried her father, who had blessed her, who would know and could testify to a surety that she was the wife of Philadelphus!
Neither the commissions sent by the senate , nor the foreign arbiters, such as Scipio Aemilianus called in after the Greek fashion by the Macedonians, were able to establish any tolerable order. Suddenly there appeared in Thrace a young man, who called himself Philip the son of king Perseus, whom he strikingly resembled, and of the Syrian Laodice.
Laodice, the Christian and that white-haired trembler in his refuge, saw the Maccabee raise himself to his full height and lifting his sword confront in one grand effort at command a mob of six hundred madmen! Perhaps that manifestation of iron courage and strength, which the crazy lot somehow realized, saved him from death.
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