The City of Delight | Page 9

more, spoke:
"Does not this person make signs to us, Aquila?"
The pagan looked back.
"Why should he?" he asked.
"He can tell us," the master observed and spoke to Momus and Hiram,
who drew up their camels. The traveler raced alongside.

It was a woman, veiled and wrapped with all the jealous care of the
East against the curious eyes of strangers. Aquila took in her featureless
presence with a single irritated look and apparently lost interest.
"Greeting, lady," Costobarus said.
"Peace, sir, and greeting," she replied respectfully. Her tones were
marked with the deference of the serving-class and Costobarus gave her
permission to speak.
"Art thou a Jew and master of this train?" she asked.
Costobarus assented.
"I was journeying to Jerusalem with a caravan of which my master was
owner, but the Romans came upon us and took every one prisoner,
except myself. I escaped, but I am without protection and without
friends. In Jerusalem, I have relatives who will care for me, yet I fear to
make the journey alone. I pray thee, with the generosity of a Jew and
the authority of a master, permit me to go in the protection of thy
company!"
Costobarus reflected and while he hesitated he became aware that
Momus was looking at him with warning in his eyes. But Laodice, so
filled with loneliness and apprehension, was moved to sympathy for the
solitary and friendless woman. She leaned toward her father and said in
a low voice:
"Let her come with us, father; she is a woman and afraid."
Aquila heard that low petition and he flashed a look at the stranger that
seemed reproachful. But Costobarus was speaking.
"Ride with us, then, and be welcome," he said.
The woman bowed her shawled head and murmured with emotion after
a silence:
"The blessings of a servant be upon you and yours; may the God of

Israel be with you for evermore."
She dropped back to the rear of the party and the train moved on.
Meanwhile, Keturah, who sat huddled on the floor of Laodice's howdah,
had not moved since they had left the doorway of Costobarus' house.
Momus, on the neck of Laodice's camel, had observed her once or
twice, and now he reached back and touched her. He jerked his hand
away and brought up his camel with a wrench. Hiram, following close
behind, by dint of main strength managed to avoid a collision with
Momus' beast so suddenly halted. The mute leaped down from his
place and in an instant Costobarus joined him. Alarmed without
understanding, Laodice had risen and was drawn as far as she might
from the serving-woman. Momus, lifting himself by the stirrup, seized
the stiff figure and laid it down upon the sands. Aquila dismounted and
the three men bent over the woman. Then Costobarus glanced up
quickly at Laodice, made a sign to Momus, who, with a face devoid of
expression, climbed back into his place on the neck of the camel.
The strange woman who had stood her ground was heard to say in a
low voice, half lost in the muffling of her wrappings:
"One!"
Momus drove on leisurely and Laodice, knowing that she must not look,
slipped down in her place and wrapped her vitta over her face.
Pestilence was riding with them.
After a long time, Costobarus' camel ambled up beside hers, and she
ventured to uncover her eyes. Her father smiled at her with that same
heart-breaking smile which her mother had for her in face of trouble.
"The frosts! The frosts!" he whispered to Momus, and the mute laid
goad about his camel.
Aquila, seeing this haste, checked his horse's gait and fell back beside
the strange woman. Together they permitted the rest of the party to ride

ahead, while they talked in voices too restrained to be heard.
"There is pestilence in this company," Aquila said angrily; "will that
not persuade you to abandon this plan?"
"No. When all of you are like to die and leave this great treasure sitting
out in the wilderness without a guardian?" she said lightly. There was
no trace of a servant's humility in her tone.
"Hast had the plague that thou seem'st to feel secure from it?" he
demanded.
"O no; then there would be no risk in this game. There is no sport in an
unfair advantage over conditions. No! But how comes this Costobarus
with you?"
"He would not trust his daughter and a dowry to me, alone."
"How shall we get to Emmaus, then?" she asked.
"We shall not get to Emmaus; so you must inform Julian, who will
expect us there," he declared.
The woman played with the silken reins of her camel. Behind her veil a
sarcastic smile played about the corners of her mouth.