“Certainly, I was but waiting for your leave. As you may have heard, I represent a very noble person——”
“Who, I think, took an interest in the captive to the extent of fifteen hundred sestertia,” suggested Caleb.
“Quite so—and whose interest unfortunately remains unabated, or rather, I should say, that it is transferred.”
“To the gentleman whose deep feeling induced him to provide five hundred more?” queried Caleb.
“Precisely. What intuition you have! It is a gift with which the East endows her sons.”
“Suppose you put the matter plainly, worthy Saturius.”
“I will, excellent Demetrius. The great person to whom I have alluded was so moved when he heard of his loss that he actually burst into tears, and even reproached me, whom he loves more dearly than his brother——”
“He might easily do that, if all reports are true,” said Caleb, drily, adding, “Was it then that you met with your accident?”
“It was. Overcome at the sight of my royal master’s grief, I fell down.”
“Into a well, I suppose, since you managed to injure your eye, your back, and your leg all at once. There—I understand—these things will happen—in the households of the Great where the floors are so slippery that the most wary feet may slide. But that does not console the sufferer whose hurt remains, does it?”