heels； his legs bent and his body straighta position hereditary to
his race。 His face and his body； which was clothed in black； were
invisible in the darkness； but his big white eyes shone out； and there
came from them a light like a ray of dawn through the chinks of a
door。 He spoke in a husky； monotonous tone； with a slight nasal twang
that gave it the soft melody of music heard at night in the streets。
Sometimes the breathing of an ass； or the soft lowing of an ox；
accompanied； like a chorus of invisible spirits； the voice of the
slave as he recited the gospels。 His words flowed gently in the
darkness； which they filled with zeal； mercy； and hope； and the
neophyte； her hand in that of Ahmes； lulled by the monotonous sounds；
and the vague visions in her mind； slept calm and smiling； amid the
harmonies of the dark night and the holy mysteries； gazed down on by a
star； which twinkled between the joists of the stable…roof。
The initiation lasted a whole year； till the time when the Christians
joyfully celebrate the festival of Easter。 One night in the holy week；
Thais； who was already asleep on her mat； felt herself lifted by the
slave； whose eyes gleamed with a strange light。 He was clad； not as
usual in a pair of torn drawers； but in a long white cloak； beneath
which he pressed the child； whispering to her
〃Come； my soul！ Come； light of my eyes！ Come； little sweetheart！ Come
and be clad in the baptismal robes！〃
He carried the child pressed to his breast。 Frightened and yet
curious； Thais； her head out of the cloak； threw her arms round her
friend's neck； and he ran with her through the darkness。 They went
down narrow； black alleys； they passed through the Jews' quarter； they
skirted a cemetery； where the osprey uttered its dismal cry； they
traversed an open space； passing under crosses on which hung the
bodies of victims； and on the arms of the crosses the ravens clacked
their beaks。 Thais hid her head in the slave's breast。 She did not
dare to peep out all the rest of the way。 Soon it seemed to her that
she was going down under ground。 When she reopened her eyes she found
herself in a narrow cave； lighted by resin torches； on the walls of
which were painted standing figures； which seemed to move and live in
the flickering glare of the torches。 They were men clad in long tunics
and carrying branches of palm； and around them were lambs； doves； and
tendrils of vine。
Amongst these figures； Thais recognised Jesus of Nazareth； by the
anemones flowering at his feet。 In the centre of the cave； near a
large stone font filled with water； stood an old man clad in a scarlet
dalmatic embroidered with gold； and on his head a low mitre。 His thin
face ended in a long beard。 He looked gentle and humble； in spite of
his rich costume。 This was Bishop Vivantius； an exiled dignitary of
the Church of Cyrene； who now gained his livelihood by weaving common
stuffs of goats' hair。 Two poor children stood by his side。 Close by；
an old negress unfolded a little white robe。 Ahmes set the child down
on the ground； and kneeling before the Bishop； said
〃Father； this is the little soul； the child of my soul。 I have brought
her that you may； according to your promise； and if it please your
holiness； bestow on her the baptism of life。〃
At these words the Bishop opened his arms； and showed his mutilated
hands。 His nails had been torn out because he had maintained the faith
in the days of persecution。 Thais was frightened； and threw herself
into the arms of Ahmes。 But the kind words of the priest reassured
her。
〃Fear nothing； dearly beloved little one。 Thou hast here a spiritual
father； Ahmes； who is called Theodore amongst the faithful； and a kind
mother in grace； who has prepared for thee； with her own hands； a
white robe。〃
And turning towards the negress
〃She is called Nitida；〃 he added； 〃and is a slave in this world； but
in heaven she will be a spouse of Jesus。〃
Then he said to the child neophyte
〃Thais； dost thou believe in God； the Father Almighty； and in His only
Son； who died for our salvation； and in all that the apostles taught？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied together the negro and negress； who held her by each
hand。
By the Bishop's orders； Nitida knelt down and undressed Thais。 The
child was quite naked； round her neck was an amulet。 The Pontiff
plunged her three times into the baptismal font。 The acolytes brought
the oil； with which Vivantius anointed the catechumen； and the salt； a
morsel of which he placed on her tongue。 Then； having dried that body
which was destined； after many trials； to life immortal； the slave
Nitida put on Thais the white robe she had woven。
The Bishop gave to each and all the kiss of peace； and； the ceremony
being terminated； took off his sacerdotal insignia。
When they had left the crypt； Ahmes said
〃We ought to rejoice that we have this day brought a soul to the good
Lord God； let us go to the house of your Holiness and spend the rest
of the night in rejoicing。〃
〃Thou hast well said； Theodore；〃 replied the Bishop； and he led the
little band to his house； which was quite near。 It consisted of a
single room； furnished with a couple of looms； a heavy table； and a
worn…out carpet。 As soon as they had entered；
〃Nitida；〃 cried the Nubian； 〃bring hither the stove and the jar of
oil； and we will have a good supper。〃
Saying thus； he drew from under his cloak some little fish which he
had kept concealed； and lighted a fire and fried them。 The Bishop； the
girl； the two boys； and the two slaves sat in a ring on the carpet；
ate the fried fish； and blessed the Lord。 Vivantius spoke of the
torture he had undergone； and prophesied the speedy triumph of the
Church。 His language was grotesque； and full of word…play and
rhetorical tropes。 He compared the life of the just to a tissue of
purple； and to explain the mystery of baptism； he said
〃The Divine Spirit floated on the waters； and that is why Christians
receive the baptism of water。 But demons also inhabit the brooks；
springs consecrated to nymphs are especially dangerous； and there are
certain waters which cause various maladies； both of the soul and of
the body。〃
Sometimes he spoke enigmatically； and the child listened to him with
profound awe and wonder。 At the end of the repast he offered his
guests a little wine； and this unloosed their tongues； and they began
to sing lamentations and hymns。 Ahmes and Nitida then rose； and danced
a Nubian dance which they had learned as children； and which； no
doubt； had been danced by their tribe since the early ages of the
world。 It was a love dance； waving their arms； and moving their bodies
in rhythmic measure； they feigned； in turn； to fly from and to pursue
each other。 Their big eyes rolled； and they showed their gleaming
teeth in broad grins。
In this strange manner did Thais receive the holy rite of baptism。
She loved amusements； and； as she grew； vague desires were created in
her mind。 All day long she danced and sang with the children in the
streets； and when at night she returned to her father's house； she was
still singing
〃Crooked twist； why do you stay in the house？
I comb the wool； and the Miletan threads。
Crooked twist； what did your son die of？
He fell from the white horses into the sea。〃
She now began to prefer the company of boys and girls to that of the
gentle and quiet Ahmes。 She did not notice that her friend was not so
often with her。 The persecution having relented； the Christians were
able to assemble more regularly； and the Nubian frequented these
meetings assiduously。 His zeal increased； and he sometimes uttered
mysterious threats。 He said that the rich would not keep their wealth。
He went to the public places to which the poorer Christians used to
resort； and assembling together all the poor wretches who were lying
in the shade of the old walls； he announced to them that all slaves
would soon be free； and that the day of justice was at hand。
〃In the kingdom of God；〃 he said； 〃the slaves will drink new wine and
eat delicious fruits； whilst the rich； crouching at their feet like
dogs； will devour the crumbs from their table。〃
These sayings were noised abroad through all that quarter of the city；
and the masters feared that Ahmes might incite the slaves to revolt。
The innkeeper hated him intensely； though he carefully concealed his
rancour。
One day； a silver salt…cellar； reserved for the table of the gods；
disappeared from the inn。 Ahmes was accused of having stolen itout
of hate to his master and to the gods of the empire。 There was no
proof of the accusation； and the slave vehemently denied the charge。
Nevertheless； he was dragged before the tribunal； and as he had the
reputation of being a bad servant； the judge condemned him to death。
〃As you did not know how to make a good use of your hands；〃 he said；
〃they will be nailed to the cross。〃
Ahmes heard the verdict quietly； bowed to the judge most respectfully；
and was taken to the public prison。 During the three days that
remained to him； he did not cease to preach the gospel to the
prisoners； and it was related afterwards that the criminals； and the
gaoler himself； touched by his words； believed in Jesus crucified。
He was taken to the very place which one night； less than two years
before； he had crossed so joyfully； carrying in his cloak little
Thais； the daughter of his soul； his darling flower。 When his hands
were nailed to the cross； he uttered no complaint； but many times he
sighed and murmured； 〃I thirst。〃
His agony lasted three days and three nights。 It seemed hardly
possible that human flesh could have endured such prolonged torture。
Many times it was thought he was dead； the flies clustered on his
eyelids； but suddenly he would reopen his bloodshot eyes。 On the
morning of the fourth day； he sang； in a voice clearer and purer than
that of a child
〃Tell us； Mary； what thou hast seen where thou hast been？〃
Then he smiled and said
〃They come； the angels of the good Lord。 They bring me wine and fruit。
How refreshing is the fanning of their wings！〃
And he expired。
His features preserved in death an expression of ecstatic happiness。
Even the soldiers who gua