"I will comfort you," said he, after a pause.

"I wish I

were older; I am only ten years old, but I am not a coward. I am a Roman boy, and my father's boy, and I am not afraid. I can die, and die bravely."

Many such words did Marcus utter. He in his lofty courage sought to soothe his mother. He had a strange sweet air of superiority, as though he recognized in himself a stronger and a superior nature; and his mother also drew encouragement from that unfaltering courage, that splendid "pluck" of the little boy. Religion came also, with its comforts. She thought of him who had died for her; she reproached herself for her weakness. New strength came to her heart, and at last the prospect of the stake grew less terrible, being eclipsed by the splendour of that heaven that lay beyond.

At length they entered the city. The burnt parts were not yet rebuilt. The party went on through a wide waste of ruined houses. In some places there were rough huts erected, where people were living; in others, the walls of new buildings were rising. It was quite dark, and few people were in the streets. After some time they came to the Suburra, which had all been rebuilt, and showed something like its former busy and varied Down this they went for a short distance, and at length turned off through a side street.

scene.

At length they stopped before a large edifice which still bore traces of fire in its ruined walls. It was the prison.

"This is not the place," said Hegio to the officer. "Their quarters are in the house of Padentatus in the Campus Martius. I will lead on to show the way."

The officer said nothing. Hegio then rode forward, and putting himself at the head of the party, went at the usual pace through many streets.

At last they came to a wide open space. It was the Campus Martius. They rode along the street that bordered it, and finally came to a house that stood on the side of this street.

It was alone by itself. The houses near it had not yet been rebuilt. This was an old edifice of massive construction, which had suffered but little from the fire, and had been repaired. Here the party stopped. They all dismounted. No inhabited house was near; the building stood by itself. The officer, who seemed sullen and impatient, hurried his men to the completion of their task. Two soldiers remained behind with Hegio, and the officer rode on with the rest.

Then the door was unfastened, lights were procured, and Hegio and the soldiers took their prisoners inside.

After a time Hegio came forth, mounted his horse, and rode away.

He knew not that he had been watched all this time by one who had seen everything.

He knew not that the avenger was on his track.

XXVII.

The Avenger.

O Hegio rode off, not knowing that one was on his track who would demand for all this a terrible reckoning.

He rode off slowly and leisurely. His horse and he were both fatigued from the long ride and the excitement. He wished also to ride slowly, so as to luxuriate in the thought of his perfect revenge. Much had been done, more remained the punishment due to Christians-the Vatican gardens. The thought was sweet to a soul like his.

He thought of other things. That officer had scorned him, and treated him with insult. He had also hesitated in his duty. This should be punished. Labeo should also fall-and Cineas

and all his enemies.

He let the bridle fall carelessly as he rode along-lost in thoughts that were so pleasing to him-and in this frame of mind he went at the same pace through the city.

At last he approached the Esquiline hill. Here was the favourite residence of Tigellinus, and to this Hegio was bound. The broad open space which had been made to arrest the flames still remained, covered with the debris of the ruined houses. All was dark there.

Hegio rode along.

Suddenly a dark form rushed past him through the gloom, and before he could put spurs to the horse, before he could

even think, a mighty grasp had clutched him by the throat and dragged him down from his horse. The animal bounded forward in terror, and rushed off like the wind.

Bruised by his fall, half-suffocated by the grasp of his unknown assailant, Hegio lay on the ground; but bruises and suffocation were forgotten in the deadly fear that rushed through his soul; for he had the most craven spirit that ever animated a human form. He was one of those who can die from fright, and now all his strength ebbed away in a paralysis of fear.

He tried to gasp out words of entreaty, but in vain.

One hand was on his throat, another fumbled at his waist, and loosened the rich girdle that encircled it. For a moment the grasp on his throat was relaxed.

"Spare me," cried Hegio, as he found breath. "I'll give you gold, if you want it. I am an imperial officer. Beware harm me. You will suffer for it. I will pay anything you -name your price."

how

The only answer was a tight bandage forced over his mouth and into it, like a gag, from his girdle, which his assailant had twisted into shape, and now firmly bound around him, so that it effectually prevented him from making any sound.

Then, turning him over on his face, the unknown assailant sat on his shoulders, and seizing his arms forced them behind him, and taking his own girdle pinioned them in that place tightly. Hegio felt like a child in the grasp of his enemy.

Then the assailant rose, and holding Hegio firmly, bade him rise also. Without a word, he pushed him along before him. Hegio saw with a feeling of relief that they went toward the Esquiline; but fear came over him, and dread suspicion, as he saw, that he was forced toward the ruins of Labeo's house.

Those ruins yet remained. The walls had fallen in most parts; but on one side about half the height still stood erect.

To this shadowy form where the dark wall arose Hegio felt himself impelled, and, incapable of speech or resistance, he walked on.

At last they stopped before an opening which led into the vaults beneath the house. All was intensely dark. For a moment he struggled, and tried to hold back, but the force of his captor was too great. He had to descend. The steps

were still covered with beams and ashes. Down these the wretched prisoner was forced, and his captor followed. At last they reached the bottom.

Then Hegio felt himself dragged along some distance in the intense darkness. His fear was greater than ever. In that moment he tasted of the bitterness of death.

He started back

Then Hegio was commanded to lie down. and refused. In an instant he was thrown down violently, and his captor again held him down.

"I am going to take away your gag," said a stern and awful voice, in a rude foreign accent, which was unknown to Hegio. "But I hold a dagger at your heart, and if you utter one cry, you die. Answer me, and say nothing more."

The gag was then removed.

66

'Spare me," gasped Hegio.

"Peace, fool, or you die.

deep, stern voice.

"What do you want?"

"The lady and the boy."

"If you want gold-"

Answer my questions," said the

At that word a cry was heard in the darkness of the vault. Hegio started, and screamed.

But the gripe of his assailant still held his throat.

"Fool! if you scream again you die," cried his enemy, and holding more tightly, he tried to peer through the gloom. "Whoever comes near, dies," he cried.

"Who is here?" said a voice, whose tones were familiar indeed to Hegio and Galdus.