conspicuous in consequence of a sack of brown silk hanging loosely from
the shoulder, with leaves and flowers done in dazzling embroidery down
the front and around the edges. And then the slippers were of silk not
less rich with embroidery, while over the bare head a sunshade of bamboo
and paper brilliantly painted was carried.

Too well bred to persist in the stare or attempt to satisfy his
curiosity by a direct question, the proprietor opened the letter, and
began reading it. His neighbors less considerate ran together, and
formed a crowd around the stranger, who nevertheless bore the inspection
composedly, apparently unconscious of anything to make him such a
cynosure.

The paper which the removal of the envelope gave to the stall-keeper's
hand excited him the more. The delicacy of its texture, its softness to
the touch, its semi-transparency, were unlike anything he had ever seen;
it was not only foreign, but very foreign.

The lettering, however, was in Greek plainly done. He noticed first the
date; then, his curiosity becoming uncontrollable, and the missive being
of but one sheet, his eyes dropped to the place of signature. There was
no name there--only a seal--an impression on a surface of yellow wax of
the drooping figure of a man bound to a cross.

[Illustration]

At sight of the seal his eyes opened wider. He drew a long breath to
quiet a rising feeling, half astonishment, half awe. Retreating to a
bench near by, he seated himself, and presently became unmindful of the
messenger, of the crowd, of everything, indeed, except the letter and