"Then if there were no such duty would you wed me, Miriam?"
"No," she answered faintly.
"Why not?"
"Because I love another man whom also I am forbid to wed, and until death I am pledged to him."
"The Roman, Marcus?"
"Aye, the Roman Marcus. See, I wear his ring," and she lifted her hand, "and his gift is about my throat," and she touched the necklet of pearls. "Till death I am his and his alone. This I say, because it is best for all of us that you should know the truth."
Caleb ground his teeth in bitter jealousy.
"Then may death soon find him!" he said.
"It would not help you, Caleb. Oh! why cannot we be friends as we were in the old times!"
"Because I seek more than friendship, and soon or late, in this way or in that, I swear that I will have it."
As the words left his lips footsteps were heard, and Benoni appeared.
"Friend Caleb," he said, "we await you. Why, Miriam, what do you here? To your chamber, girl. Affairs are afoot in which women should have no part."
"Yet as I fear, grandfather, women will have to bear the burden," answered Miriam. Then, bowing to Caleb, she turned and left them.