The City of Delight

"There is nothing to employ a surfeited mind in this city."

"No?" he said lightly, while interest began to awaken in his eyes.

"The making of enjoyment is here. I have found it so."

"Perchance you have," but she halted and resumed her moody gaze at the

flood of sunlight.

"Are you weary?" he asked. "What is it?"

"Idleness! Eating, sleeping--no; not even that; for idleness steals

away my appetite and my repose."

"Strange restiveness for one reared in the quiet inner chambers of a

Jewish house," he observed.

Her eyes dropped away to the floor; he saw that she was breathing

quickly.

"I dreamed of a free life once," she said in a restrained way. "I have

not since been satisfied. I dreamed of cities and kings, that were

mine! of crises that I dared, of--of things that I did!"

There was indignation and pride in the words, too much recollection of

an actuality to rise from the reminiscences of a dream. John watched

her alertly.

"Enough will happen here in time to divert you," he said.

She made a motion with her hand that swept the round of masonry about

her.

"Not until this falls."

"Come, then, up into my fortress and see my fellows from Gischala," he

offered. "They fled with me from that city when Titus took it and

together we came to this place. They are hardened to disaster; they

and death are fellow-jesters."

"Soldiers?"

"Everything! Better athletes than soldiers, better mummers than

athletes; villains most engaging of all!"

She showed no interest and, after a critical pause, he continued: "They robbed the booth of some costumer whom the Sadducees had made

rich and captured a maid whom they held until she had taught them how

to use henna and kohl. So I had a garrison of swearing girls until

they wearied of the fatigue of stepping mincingly and untangling their

garments. It was that which robbed the sport of its pleasure and

changed my harem back to a fortress. But while it lasted they were

kings over Jerusalem. And what dear mad dangerous wantons they were!

What confusion to short-sighted citizens; what affrights to sociable

maidens! Even I laughed at them."

"What antics indeed!" she murmured perfunctorily.

"Now they want new entertainment; something immense and different," he

said.

She looked up at him; in her eyes he read, "Even as I do!"

"But they are not unique in that," he continued. "All the world seeks

diversion. Observe the pretty stranger come here fresh from some

lady's tiring-room, hunting adventure, bearding thee and wearing thy

name!"

Her eyes sparkled.

"She shall have adventure enough," she declared.

"I hear," John pursued, "that she does not expect her servant to

return, whom she sent to Ascalon for proofs."

"No?" the woman cried, sitting up.