I forgot myself; your beauty is to blame, and your sweetness and everything that is yours.

I pray," he added humbly, "that you will not think the worse of me, since we men are frail at times.

And now, because you ask me, though I have no right, I grant your prayer.

Mayhap those witnesses lied; at least, the man's sin, if sin there be, can be excused.

He has naught to fear from me." "No," broke in Nehushta, "but I think you have much to fear from him; and I am sorry for that, my lord Marcus, for you have a noble heart." "It may be so; the future is on the knees of the gods, and that which is fated will befall.