“May it please your Excellency,” said Seti with emphasis, “this is the young man for whom you have asked and whom you authorized us to rescue at all costs.”
“I am glad I did it. It was one of the best acts of my life,” exclaimed Flaccus, as he looked up with undisguised astonishment at the figure and face before him.
Then with some hesitation he continued, “You do not seem, young man, to have suffered much from your confinement. It could hardly have been very severe without leaving some marks upon you. I see none whatever. I would not object to being confined myself if I could reappear in as good a condition as yours.”
“Still, such a confinement as mine is not one which I can conscientiously recommend to your Excellency,” returned Aleph. “It had some features about it rather trying to the average constitution. I think that the fact that I am here to-day in a sound condition is due to my having a constitution considerably tougher than the average.”
“No doubt it is so,” said the Roman. “I am glad that you have come off so well. I have come here to say so; to express my pleasure at your safe return; to congratulate you upon it; and also to congratulate you on having secured in so brief a time such warm and most desirable friends as I see about you. I trust you will count me among them.”
“Aleph the Chaldean accepts with pleasure the kind words which your Excellency does him the honor of offering; and himself feels that he has been highly favored in finding in a strange land so many friends whom he will never be willing or able to forget.”
“I have another object in coming here to-day,” continued Flaccus. “My son, who is sick, begs that you will visit him at the Cæsareum. Your nation, I believe, is well versed in leech craft; and perhaps you can help him. If you will take a seat with me in my chariot it will gratify both him and me.”
“I will go to your son almost immediately,” said Aleph. “But your Excellency will excuse me for declining the honor of your chariot. A less distinguished way of going will better suit my youth and circumstances.”
To say that the students were astonished hardly does the facts justice. Three things amazed them—that the Governor should take a step so likely to be understood by the public as against Malus; that Sextus Flaccus, sick or well, should send for Aleph; and that Aleph should carry himself in so unembarrassed and independent and yet courtly manner in the presence of the chief Roman dignitary. It was another revelation to them. Some of them said, “Plainly, this is not the first time Aleph has dealt with people in high places—he is too much at home with them to be dealing with novelties.”
Both that day, and daily for many days afterward, Aleph found his way to the Cæsareum, and to the slowly recovering Sextus. What was said or done in these interviews never transpired—at least among the students. I am not prepared to say but that Seti and Rachel came to know of pleasant and hopeful things.