“I thank you, friend,” answered Saturius, rubbing his hands, “and, after all, things may be better than they seem. That insolent fool let out just now that the girl about whom there is all this bother has been smuggled away somewhere across the seas. When Domitian learns that he will be so mad with anger that he may be worked up to take a little vengeance of his own upon the person of the noble Marcus, who has thus contrived to trick him. Also Marcus shall not get the Pearl-Maiden, for the prince will cause her to be followed and brought back—to you, worthy Demetrius.”
“Then,” answered Caleb, slowly, “he must seek for her, not across the sea, but in its depths.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I have tidings that Pearl-Maiden escaped in the ship Luna hard upon a month ago. This morning the captain and some mariners of the galley Imperatrix arrived in Rome. They report that they met a great gale off Rhegium, and towards the end of it saw a vessel sink. Afterwards they picked up a sailor clinging to a piece of wood, who told them that the ship’s name was Luna and that she foundered with all hands.”
“Have you seen this sailor?”
“No; he died of exhaustion soon after he was rescued; but I have seen the men of the galley, who brought me note of certain goods consigned to me in her hold. They repeated this story to me with their own lips.”
“So, after all, she whom so many sought was destined to the arms of Neptune, as became a pearl,” reflected Saturius. “Well, well, as Domitian cannot be revenged upon Neptune he will be the more wroth with the man who sent her to that god. Now I go to tell him all these tidings and learn his mind.”
“You will return and acquaint me with it, will you not?” asked Caleb, looking up.
“Certainly, and at once. Our account is not yet balanced, most generous Demetrius.”
“No,” answered Caleb, “our accounts are not yet balanced.”