and prayed; Nehushta, drawing the knife from her bosom, crept towards
the doorway like a tigress, and placed her left hand on the stick that
held it shut. Well it was that she did so, since presently the soldier
gave a savage push that might easily have caused the wood to slip on the
cemented floor. Now, satisfied that it was really locked, he turned and
went down the steps.

With a gasp of relief Nehushta once more set her ear to the crack.

"It's fast enough," reported the man, "but perhaps it might be as well
to get the key from Amram and have a look."

"Friend," said the officer, "I think that you must be in love with this
black lady; or is it her mistress whom you admire? I shall recommend
you for the post of Christian-catcher to the cohort. Now we'll try that
house at the corner, and if they are not there, I am off to the palace
to see how his godship is getting on with that stomach-ache and whether
it has moved him to order payment of our arrears. If he hasn't, I tell
you flatly that I mean to help myself to something, and so do the rest
of the lads, who are mad at the stopping of the games."

"It would be much better to get that key from Amram and have a look
upstairs," put in number two soldier reflectively.

"Then go to Amram, or to Pluto, and ask for the key of Hades for aught
I care!" replied his superior with irritation. "He lives about a league
off at the other end of the town."

"I do not wish for the walk," said the conscientious soldier; "but as we
are searching for these escaped Christians, by your leave, I do think it