“It is indeed an astonishing likeness. The face is perfect. And where is the mask in imitation of yours?”
He untied a string behind his neck, and drew off his hair and beard at once. He was a beardless bald old man. He wore his mask.
“Any one wearing this would be mistaken for me. There was one difficulty about the eyes. We got over that by wearing the green shade. There was another [pg 338]about the nose and mouth. She must hold her handkerchief to her face, as is natural in grief. The illusion will be complete.
“Here are two flat pieces of cork,” he continued, “to be put into my sandals, which are peculiarly constructed so as to conceal them. That will add an inch to Mary’s height. Then you see my turban is so arranged that a little traction here elevates it an inch more. That will make it right, for she is nearly as tall as I am. The robes you know we can simply exchange.”
The old man dwelt upon these details until he convinced Euphorbus that the singular exchange was perfectly feasible.
The voice of Simon Magus was now heard in the courtyard. He had just looked into Mary’s window to see that his victim had not escaped. He threw the guard some money. He then spoke to three men who stood before him with long poles in their hands, each pole having an iron hook at the end of it. He spoke so loud that Mary and every one heard him:
“You will stand inside the iron railing and watch the lion’s attack. So long as he eats the neck and shoulders or the lower half of the body, let him alone. When he begins upon the chest, drag the body away from him with your hooks. Remember! I want the woman’s heart uninjured. If you cannot do it, I will give the signal for the keepers to throw in the murderer Trebonius. That will save my prize and satisfy the people.”
After this horrible speech he entered the amphitheatre by a private way and resumed his seat near the gorgeous chair of Lelius.
“The coast is clear,” said Euphorbus. “Now is our time.”
They entered the courtyard. Euphorbus gave the guards double money.