"I have only to show them the symbol," he quoted, "and the sailors and officers are subject to my orders."
That evening, the gladiator went to the cave, and finding Lidia with her father, ate the supper of coarse bread and goat's cheese with them.
"Thou art accounted of much wisdom," he said to Lidia, "thy little head hath been ever steady on thy shoulders. Tell us what to do."
"I am only a kitchen-maid," Lidia replied, blushing at the compliment, "but I should think that we might do thus."
And a plan was made to their satisfaction, a very difficult plan involving great danger for all of them, perhaps death to Lycias and Lucius. It hung to a large degree on one thing which seemed to be unattainable.
"With God, all things are possible," said wise little Lidia.
"Let us pray," said the shepherd, and he and Lidia fell upon their knees on the grass in front of the cave, where even now in late Autumn, some tiny pink-tipped daisies were blooming.
After a moment's hesitation, Lycias, who had never knelt to any but heathen gods, bent his knee also and uncovered his head in the presence of the unseen but powerful Ruler of the Universe.
He and Lidia walked back to Rome together.
As they parted, the big gladiator looked down into her earnest little face, with the clear, honest eyes.