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From it ornaments and strings of jewels were taken and handed to the maid. "On my arms fasten thy bands and make my throat to sparkle, and when Margara hath dressed my hair, twine it thick with shining stones." Claudia rested herself on the wolf skin couch and as the two slaves dressed her hair and ornamented her body, she talked with them. "Strange sights I saw in Jerusalem this day.

At the foot of the bed a swinging window opened out above the street and through its mullioned outlines the fading pink of a springtime sunset could be seen. Claudia's two Greek slaves, Zenobe and Margara, were lounging on the couches discussing a new robe that had been brought from Rome, when their mistress, followed by her eunuch, entered the apartment.

If, as Park supposed, in place of being lost, according to Major Rennel's theory, in some imaginary lake called Margara, it took a southerly direction, and might prove to be the river Congo; it was his intention to embark on board some slave-ship, and return, either by the way of St. Helena or the West Indies.

When the curtain had swung into place shutting the slave from view, Claudia sat down and called her maids. "Unclasp my jewels and unbind my hair, Margara," she said wearily, throwing her cloak aside. "And thou, Zenobe, summon Pilate's servant with the wine. Thy master tarrieth, and delay improveth not the temper of a man when he would have his cups."

For a moment she stood dazed with terror. Then she shouted to her maids, "Margara! Zenobe! Hasten! Summon my eunuch. I must have speech with Pilate!" When the eunuch appeared, Claudia cried: "Ah, my scarred eunuch! Warning hath been given me in a dream that all is not well at the Judgment Hall. Ah, a dream such a dream a dream in which earth and air and sky and water war and are not satisfied!

I know not more, but the centurion telleth it broadly." "Whence got thou the story?" "From thy scarred eunuch, my mistress." "From my scarred eunuch? And where got he the story?" "I know not save he hath it." "Call thou my eunuch to me." With flying feet Zenobe hastened to obey. Meantime Margara finished her work of hair dressing, exclaiming, "Thy hair is most beautiful!"

"Take thou my cloak, Zenobe," she said, uncovering a splendid gown heavy with spangles of silver and rare lace, "and bring back the jewels that have been under guard since we left Rome. And thou, Margara, freshen my hair while I sit and rest, for Pilate doth come shortly." "Aye, Pilate doth come shortly and for Pilate doth Claudia dress her hair." The words were spoken softly.

On the third day before the great Feast, she returned to the palace before the time of Pilate's arrival, and pushing aside one of the magnificent hangings that lent a touch of barbaric color to the gorgeous apartment, she entered and looked about. "Margara! Zenobe!" she called. At sound of her voice, from behind another hanging, two slave maidens appeared.