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THE GOLDEN SUPPER
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draped in black, seemed to lend the presence of the original to the feast ; and, when the guests had done, Julian rose to speak.
"It is a Persian custom," he began, "when greatest honor would be done a guest, to lay before him every treasure of the host."
He paused and all the guests applauded the idea; but Julian raised his hand for silence and went on.
"The custom carries further. When the guest is honored to the utmost, the host brings that which is thrice dearest to his heart. But first I ask a question.
"I knew a man who had been served for years by a faithful slave who, now grown old and weak, was thrust into the street to die. There came another man who pitied his estate, took him to his home and nursed him back to health. Now to which man — ■ the one who cast him forth to die, or to the one who saved from death — ■ did that old slave belong?"
Julian paused, and with his silence
the debate began. Some argued for the owner, but the rest pleaded for the man who had saved the slave's life, declaring that he who owned the slave had cast him aside as worthless while the other had beneficently rendered him of value.
At last they turned to Lionel, who was learned in law, and left the point to him.
"No point of law holds good," was his reply. "By all the claims of love and gratitude the slave belongs to him who saved — not to the one wTho cast away. ' '
Julian smiled, and, turning to a friend, made sign to him to bring Camilla in.
She came, clothed as a bride with wondrous veil, and yet, unlike a bride, she bore the rosy infant in her arms. "Now are you fully honored," said Julian with a smile, "for you behold all that I hold most dear;" and with a courtly bow he led her to a chair beside Lionel.
A murmur of surprise swept over
JULIAN'S GIFT TO HIS GUEST.