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, in spite of the promises which the Egyptian made, and the unspeakable terror of the maidens on account of the plague, it is doubtful if they would have consented to go at the last had it not been for Daphne.

For when the men had fled and most of the maidens, and only those remained whom the stranger had chosen, and to whom he was telling flattering tales in order to take away their dread. Daphne suddenly appeared, having heard of what had taken place.

It chanced that her family had been taken by the plague, and she was left quite alone,—for, as was well known, she was a native of