Miriam came in, and advancing to the proud beauty, who remained
seated, made an obeisance down to the very floor, without, however,
taking her eyes for an instant off Hypatia's face.

Her countenance was haggard and bony, with broad sharp-cut lips,
stamped with a strangely mingled expression of strength and
sensuality. Put the feature about her which instantly fixed
Hypatia's attention, and from which she could not in spite of
herself withdraw it, was the dry, glittering, coal-black eye which
glared out from underneath the gray fringe of her swarthy brows,
between black locks covered with gold coins. Hypatia could look at
nothing but those eyes; and she reddened, and grew all but
unphilosophically angry, as she saw that the old woman intended her
to look at them, and feel the strange power which she evidently
wished them to exercise.

After a moment's silence, Miriam drew a letter from her bosom, and
with a second low obeisance presented it.

'From whom is this?'

'Perhaps the letter itself will tell the beautiful lady, the
fortunate lady, the discerning lady,' answered she, in a fawning,
wheedling tone. 'How should a poor old Jewess know great folks'
secrets?'

'Great folks?--'

Hypatia looked at the seal which fixed a silk cord round the letter.