The City of Delight | Page 7

feeling showing on
his face.
"Send hither thy mother; bid Aquila and our servants stand here before
me a little later."
She bowed and withdrew. As she passed out a servant stepped aside to
give her room and at a sign from his master approached.
"A messenger from Philip of Tyre," he said.
A moment later an old courier carrying a sheepskin wallet came into
the chamber. He salaamed and produced a tablet which he handed to
Costobarus.
Herewith, O my brother, I send thee one hundred talents. May it prove
part of the corner-stone of a new Israel. Peace to thee and thine!
PHILIP OF TYRE.
Costobarus looked up at the old courier.
"Take my blessings to thy master. May he come to a high seat in that
new Israel which he hath helped to build! Farewell."
The courier withdrew. When his footsteps died away the old merchant
reached under the divan and drew forth the shittim-wood box.
Producing a key he unlocked and opened it. From his bosom he drew
forth the letter from Philadelphus and laid it within.
"Let her take it with her," he said, speaking aloud. "Here," lifting a

cylinder of old silver exquisitely chased, "are her marriage papers;
this," lifting delicately embroidered squares of linen, "her marriage
tokens, and here, her dowry."
He opened the inner box and laid the sheepskin wallet in upon the gems.
He closed the lid, and, locking the case, lifted it and set it beside him on
the divan.
When he looked up, he saw a man standing within a few paces of him
and perfunctorily gazing at anything but the display of Laodice's
fortune.
He was lean, muscular, somewhat younger than forty but already gray
at the temples, of nervous temperament, direct of gaze and of attractive
presence. He wore a tunic of gray wool bordered with red, and a gray
mantle hung negligently from his shoulders. Limbs and arms were bare
and his head-covering of red wool hung from his arm.
Costobarus, a little discomfited that he had been surprised with
Laodice's dowry exposed, spoke briskly.
"Well, Aquila? Prepared?"
"Everything is in order. I am ready to proceed at once."
"How many in your party?"
"But myself."
"Have you ever been to Jerusalem?"
"Never."
"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. How will you get my daughter to
shelter when you have reached the city?"
"Philadelphus hath instructed me that there will be a Greek at the Sun
Gate daily, awaiting us. He will wear a purple turban embroidered with
a golden star. He will conduct us to the house of Amaryllis the Seleucid,
who is pledged to the Maccabee's cause. Philadelphus will be in her
house."
"Why hers?" Costobarus persisted.
"Because it is the only secure house in Jerusalem. She stands in the
good graces of John of Gischala and she is safe."
Costobarus ruminated.
"There is too much detail; too many people to depend upon and
therefore too many who may fail you. Aquila!"
"Sir?"
"I am going to Jerusalem with you."
He turned without waiting to see the effect of this speech upon the
Maccabee's courier and clapped his hands for an attendant. To the
servitor who responded he said:
"Send hither our party. It is time. Bring me my cloak."
He looked then suddenly at Aquila. The Roman's face had cleared of its
astonishment and discomfiture.
"Well enough," the courier said bluntly and closed his lips. 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.
There was a moment of silence more distressed than embarrassed.
Momus dropped his eyes; Keturah looked at her master with moving
lips and sudden flushing of color, as if she were on the point of tears.
Aquila stared absently out of the arch beyond.
Costobarus glanced from one to the other of his company and then
went toward the corridor to call his daughter. As he lifted the curtain,
he started and stopped.
[Illustration: At her feet Hannah knelt.]
The lifted curtain had revealed Laodice. At her feet Hannah knelt, as if
she had flung herself in her daughter's path, her arms clasping the
young figure close to her and an agony of appeal stamped on