He handed a linen scroll to his master.
It read:
The captives whom thou hast asked for freedom at Caesar's hand are
this day sent to thee, Philadelphus, under escort. They should
reach thee a little later than this messenger. However, it is
Caesar's pain to inform thee that the Greek Amaryllis as well as
the actress Salome were not to be found. Julian of Ephesus, who
named the woman for us, is here at Caesarea, but being a Roman
citizen, is not a captive. However it shall be seen to that his
liberty is sufficiently curtailed for the welfare of the public.
Also, I send herewith a shittim-wood casket found with John of
Gischala when he was captured in a cavern under Jerusalem. It
contains treasure and certain writings which identify it as
property of thy wife. There were other features in it which,
coming to my hand first, made it advisable that the State should
not know of its existence. And privately, it will be wise in thee
to destroy them.
The Maccabee stopped at this point and looked at Laodice.
"What does he mean?" he asked.
"My father put your last letter in the case," she said, with a little
panic in her face.
The Maccabee laughed, and went on,
Those that go forward to thee are Nathan of Jerusalem and Aquila
of Ephesus. To thy wife my obeisances. To thyself, greeting.
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