The next day, Marsyas, loitering on purpose near the usurer's, was approached by a servant and sent into the presence of Peter.
"Hath the bankrupt any hopes?" the money-lender demanded without preliminary.
"He goes to Alexandria, for money, and thence to imperial favor in Rome. There is Antonia who will aid him, as thou knowest. Unless thou helpest him to reach either of these two places, he is of a surety bankrupt; wherefore he can never pay thee the talent or even the interest."
Peter dismissed him moodily and Marsyas returned to the prince. But the next day Peter appeared at Agrippa's door and was conducted to the prince's presence, where Cypros sat with him and Marsyas waited. The old man made no greeting.
"Thou knowest me, Agrippa," he began at once. "For thy mother's sake, whose happy slave I was, I will take thine Essene at his terms, less the interest on the twenty thousand drachmæ."
"My Essene at his terms," Agrippa repeated in perplexity. But Marsyas, with a movement of command, broke in.
"The bargain is at first hand between thee and me, good sir," he said to Peter. "The second contract shall be between the prince and myself. Bring the money here at sunset and the writings shall be ready for thee."
"Twenty thousand drachmæ, less mine interest on the sum," Peter insisted.
"Less thine interest," Marsyas assented, and Peter went out.
Agrippa got upon his feet and gazed gravely at Marsyas.