The City of Delight

The Maccabee resolved that in spite of his heart-hunger, he must not

be a frequent visitor to the house of Amaryllis because of the

imminent risk of confronting the impostor Julian and the danger of

exposure. Not danger to his life, but danger to his freedom to court

the beautiful girl, which an unmasking might accomplish. Besides, he

had made an extraordinary entry into the Greek's house in the

beginning, and he was not prepared to explain himself even now, if he

returned.

But his longing to look at her again was stronger than his caution.

Much had happened since he had left the house of the Greek on the

evening of his first day in Jerusalem, and he feared that his

absorption in his own plans might result in the loss of her soon or

late. So when the evening of the second week to a day of his sojourn

in the city came round, unable to endure longer, he turned his steps

with considerable apprehension toward the house of Amaryllis.

When he was led across the threshold of the Greek's hall, he saw

Amaryllis sitting in her exedra, her slim white arms crossed back of

her head, her tiring-woman, summoned for a casual attention, busy with

a parted ribbon on the sandal of the lady's foot.

The Maccabee awaited her invitation. Her eyes flashed a sudden

pleasure when she looked up and saw him.

"Enter," she said, with an unwonted lightness in her voice that was

usually low and grave; "and be welcome."

He came to the place she indicated at her side and sat. In silence he

waited until the tiring-woman had finished her service and departed.

Then it was Amaryllis who spoke.

"You left us abruptly on occasion of your first visit."

"The siege was of greater interest to you than I was. When I

discovered the cause of the disturbance, you would have failed to

remember me."

"Yet I recall you readily after many days."

"The city is in disorder; conventions can not always be observed in

war-time. I returned when I could."

"Our interest in you as our guest has not abated. Philadelphus is

ready to see you, at any time," she said, watching his face.

"And in time of war," he answered composedly, "we intend many things

in the first place which we do not carry out in the second. I do not

care to see--Philadelphus."

She lifted her brows. He answered the implied question.

"I was a familiar to this Philadelphus; he is young and boastful,

talkative as a woman. If he means to be king, as those who knew him in

Ephesus were given to believe, it is not unnatural that some of us,

without fortune or tie to keep us home, should follow him--as

parasites, if you will--to share in the largess which he will surely

give his friends if he succeeds."