"But who is this man?" she exclaimed at last, almost involuntarily.
"A poor Man from Galilee," he replied.
"What is he called?"
"Out there they called Him Jesus of Nazareth."
"And where is he now?"
"He died upon the cross, in Jerusalem, seven years ago."
"Upon the cross?" she exclaimed; "what had he done?"
"He had dwelt among the poor and brought them contentment and peace; He had lived amongst men and taught them love and charity. So the Roman proconsul ordered Him to be crucified, and those whom He had rendered happy rejoiced over His death."
"Methinks that I did hear something of this. I was a child then but already I took much interest in the affairs of State, and my father spoke oft freely in my presence. I remember his talking of a demagogue over in Judæa who claimed to be the King of the Jews and who was punished for treason and sedition. But I also heard that he did but little mischief, since only a troop of ignorant fisher-folk followed and listened to him."
"Ignorant fisher-folk thou saidst it truly, O Dea Flavia, yet I have it in my mind that anon the knee of every patrician—aye! of every Cæsar—shall bend before the mighty throne of that Man from Galilee."