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breast of the virgin； who； with head thrown back； and her eyes
swimming in the horrors of death； fell with grace and modesty。
Whilst the warriors enshrouded the victim with a veil； and covered her
with lilies and anemones； terrified screams and groans rent the air；
and Paphnutius； rising from his seat； prophesied in a loud voice。
〃Gentiles？ vile worshippers of demons！ And you Arians more infamous
than the idolaters！learn！ That which you have just seen is an image
and a symbol。 There is a mystic meaning in this fable； and very soon
the woman you see there will be offered； a willing and happy
sacrifice； to the risen God。〃
But already the crowd was surging in dark waves towards the exits。 The
Abbot of Antinoe； escaping from the astonished Dorion； gained the
door； still prophesying。
An hour later he knocked at the door of the house of Thais。
The actress then lived in the rich Racotis quarter； near the tomb of
Alexander； in a house surrounded by shady gardens； in which a brook；
bordered with poplars； flowed amidst artificial rocks。 An old black
slave woman； loaded with rings； opened the door； and asked what he
wanted。
〃I wish to see Thais；〃 he replied。 〃God is my witness that I came here
for no other purpose。〃
As he wore a rich tunic； and spoke in an imperious manner； the slave
allowed him to enter。
〃You will find Thais；〃 she said； 〃in the Grotto of Nymphs。〃
PART THE SECOND
THE PAPYRUS
Thais was born of free； but poor； parents； who were idolaters。 When
she was a very little girl； her father kept； at Alexandria； near the
Gate of the Moon； an inn； which was frequented by sailors。 She still
retained some vivid； but disconnected； memories of her early youth。
She remembered her father； seated at the corner of the hearth with his
legs crossedtall； formidable； and quiet； like one of those old
Pharaohs who are celebrated in the ballads sung by blind men at the
street corners。 She remembered also her thin； wretched mother；
wandering like a hungry cat about the house； which she filled with the
tones of her sharp voice； and the glitter of her phosphorescent eyes。
They said in the neighbourhood that she was a witch； and changed into
an owl at night； and flew to see her lovers。 It was a lie。 Thais knew
well； having often watched her； that her mother practised no magic
arts； but that she was eaten up with avarice； and counted all night
the gains of the day。 The idle father and the greedy mother let the
child live as best it could； like one of the fowls in the poultry…
yard。 She became very clever in extracting； one by one； the oboli from
the belt of some drunken sailor； and in amusing the drinkers with
artless songs and obscene words； the meaning of which she did not
know。 She passed from knee to knee； in a room reeking with the odours
of fermented drinks and resiny wine…skins； then； her cheeks sticky
with beer and pricked by rough beards； she escaped； clutching the
oboli in her little hand； and ran to buy honey…cakes from an old woman
who crouched behind her baskets under the Gate of the Moon。 Every day
the same scenes were repeated； the sailors relating their perilous
adventures； then playing at dice or knuckle…bones； and blaspheming the
gods； amid their shouting for the best beer of Cilicia。
Every night the child was awakened by the quarrels of the drunkards。
Oyster…shells would fly across the tables； cutting the heads of those
they hit； and the uproar was terrible。 Sometimes she saw； by the light
of the smoky lamps； the knives glitter； and the blood flow。
It humiliated her to think that the only person who showed her any
human kindness in her young days was the mild and gentle Ahmes。 Ahmes；
the house…slave； a Nubian blacker than the pot he gravely skimmed； was
as good as a long night's sleep。 Often he would take Thais on his
knee； and tell her old tales about underground treasure…houses
constructed for avaricious kings； who put to death the masons and
architects。 There were also tales about clever thieves who married
kings' daughters； and courtesans who built pyramids。 Little Thais
loved Ahmes like a father； like a mother； like a nurse； and like a
dog。 She followed the slave into the cellar when he went to fill the
amphorae； and into the poultry…yard amongst the scraggy and ragged
fowls； all beak； claws； and feathers； who flew swifter than eagles
before the knife of the black cook。 Often at night； on the straw；
instead of sleeping； he built for Thais little water…mills； and ships
no bigger than his hand； with all their rigging。
He had been badly treated by his masters； one of his ears was torn；
and his body covered with scars。 Yet his features always wore an air
of joyous peace。 And no one ever asked him whence he drew the
consolation in his soul； and the peace in his heart。 He was as simple
as a child。 As he performed his heavy tasks； he sang； in a harsh
voice； hymns which made the child tremble and dream。 He murmured； in a
gravely joyous tone
〃Tell us； Mary； what thou hast seen where thou hast been？
I saw the shroud and the linen cloths； and the angels seated on the tomb。
And I saw the glory of the Risen One。〃
She asked him
〃Father； why do you sing about angels seated on a tomb？〃
And he replied
〃Little light of my eyes； I sing of the angels because Jesus； our
Lord； is risen to heaven。〃
Ahmes was a Christian。 He had been baptised； and was known as Theodore
at the meetings of the faithful； to which he went secretly during the
hours allowed him for sleep。
At that time the Church was suffering the severest trials。 By order of
the Emperor； the churches had been thrown down； the holy books burned；
the sacred vessels and candlesticks melted。 The Christians had been
deprived of all their honours； and expected nothing but death。 Terror
reigned over all the community at Alexandria； and the prisons were
crammed with victims。 It was whispered with horror amongst the
faithful； that in Syria； in Arabia； in Mesopotamia； in Cappadocia； in
all the empire； bishops and virgins had been flogged； tortured；
crucified or thrown to wild beasts。 Then Anthony； already celebrated
for his visions and his solitary life； a prophet； and the head of all
the Egyptian believers； descended like an eagle from his desert rock
on the city of Alexandria； and； flying from church to church； fired
the whole community with his holy ardour。 Invisible to the pagans； he
was present at the same time at all the meetings of Christians；
endowing all with the spirit of strength and prudence by which he was
animated。 Slaves； in particular； were persecuted with singular
severity。 Many of them； seized with fright； denied the faith。 Others；
and by far the greater number； fled to the desert； hoping to live
there； either as hermits or robbers。 Ahmes； however； frequented the
meetings as usual； visited the prisoners； buried the martyrs； and
joyfully professed the religion of Christ。 The great Anthony； who saw
his unshaken zeal； before he returned into the desert； pressed the
black slave in his arms； and gave him the kiss of peace。
When Thais was seven years old； Ahmes began to talk to her of God。
〃The good Lord God；〃 he said； 〃lived i