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Nehushta could not help smiling as she looked up and saw the kindly light in the king's dark eyes. She thought she understood he was amusing her for the sake of giving her time to collect herself, and in spite of the determined intention of marrying her he had so lately expressed, she felt safe with him. "The king lives for ever," she answered, in the set phrase of assent common at the court.
A weaker woman would have lied; but the fair queen saw that the moment had come wherein she could reap a rich harvest of vengeance upon her rival, and she trusted to her coolness and strength to deliver her if Nehushta actually drew the knife she wore. "I loved him," she said slowly. "I love him yet, and I hate you more than I love him. Do you understand?"
Well, it is better than I hoped for. Speak on, sweet shade of Miriam." "Nay, Marcus, you are not dead, you are only wounded and I am not a spirit, I am a woman, that woman whom once you knew down by the banks of Jordan. I have come to save you, I and Nehushta.
Look, they had parted; Miriam was gliding back to the house, and Marcus came towards him, walking like a man in his sleep. Only Nehushta stood where she was, her eyes fixed upon the ground as though she were reasoning with herself. Still like a man in a dream, Marcus passed him within touch of his outstretched hand. Caleb followed.
For my part, I say that, like the lord Marcus, this maid has acted well, and my prayer is that she also may not lose her reward." "Mine is," commented Nehushta, "that Marcus may escape the payment which he will doubtless receive from the hand of Domitian if he can hunt him out," a remark at which the face of Miriam grew very troubled.
So on they went, and on, meeting few and heeded by none, till at length Miriam sank to the ground, worn out with fear and flight. "Up," said Nehushta. "I cannot," she answered. "Something has hurt my foot. See, it bleeds!"
"If you die, the unborn child must die also. To-night or to-morrow, what does it matter?" "Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. Who knows? To-morrow Agrippa may be dead, not us, and then the child might live. It is in the hand of God. Let God decide." "Lady," answered Nehushta, setting her teeth, "for your sake I have become a Christian, yes, and I believe.
But Atossa, as she gave way before the angry Hebrew woman, drew from beneath her mantle the Indian knife she had once taken from her. Nehushta stopped short, as she saw the bright blade thrust out against her bosom. But Atossa held it up one moment, and then threw it down upon the grass at her feet.
This street in the old days, when Caesarea was called Strato's Tower, had been built upon an inner wall of the city, now long dismantled. At a distance of a few yards from where Nehushta had stopped stood an ancient gateway, unused save at times by beggars who slept under it, which led nowhere, for the outer arch of it was bricked up.
Next his quick eyes fell upon the lovely maiden who, attended by the dark-visaged Nehushta, sat before them on a seat of honour; and looking, he guessed that she must be Miriam. "Little wonder," reflected Benoni to himself, "that all men seem to love this girl, since at the first sight of her my own heart softens."
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