He therefore ventured to give no decided answer, but enquired, "Has the woman committed some crime that you are pursuing her ?" "A great one!" replied Talib, "she is my lord's wife, and--" What she has done wrong concerns me alone,' said Phoebicius, sharply interrupting his companion.

"I hope this fellow saw better than you who took the crying woman with a child, from Aila, for Sirona.

What is your name, boy ?" "Hermas," answered the lad.

"And who are you, pray ?" The Gaul's lips were parted for an angry reply, but he suppressed it and said, "I am the emperor's centurion, and I ask you, what did the woman look like whom you saw, and where did you meet her ?" The soldier's fierce looks, and his captain's words showed Hermas that the fugitive woman had nothing good to expect if she were caught, and as he was not in the least inclined to assist her pursuers he hastily replied, giving the reins to his audacity, "I at any rate did not meet the person whom you seek; the woman I saw is certainly not this man's wife, for she might very well be his granddaughter.

She had gold hair, and a rosy face, and the greyhound that followed her was called Iambe." "Where did you meet her ?" shrieked the centurion.
"In the fishing-village at the foot of the mountain," replied Hermas.
"She got into a boat, and away it went!" "Towards the north ?" asked the Gaul.
"I think so," replied Hermas, "but I do not know, for I was in a hurry, and could not look after her." "Then we will try to take her in Klysma," cried Phoebicius to the Amalekite.