But I shall not fail; nothing will harm me." "What talisman do you carry to protect you ?" the pagan asked a little irritably.
"No talisman, but the love of Jesus Christ, the Saviour!" "A Christian!" Aquila exclaimed.
Even through her stupor of grief and hopelessness, Laodice heard this exclamation.

Here, then, was one of the Nazarenes, that mysterious sect whose tenets she had never been permitted to hear; But also, she knew that the old apostate had braved the plague and had buried her father.

She turned to look at him in time to see him extend his hands in blessing over her.
"_The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and his comfort be with you, for ever; amen_.

Farewell." He was gone.

Momus raised her in his arms and, lifting her into her howdah, laid her tenderly on the improvised reclining seat that had been made of the chair therein.