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would need more eyes than my own. He passed much of his time in Rome, and what he did there was a secret to me. I knew, however, that all the revenue of this estate did not go to Labeo, nor anything like it. Where did it go? To some purpose in the city. In order to find this out, I put myself in communication with my own people. ledge was at my disposal; and I, a poor slave, was able to know the whole conduct of Hegio, and his disposal of every hour of his time, every day of his life.

At once, all their know

“Tigellinus is the most infamous of men, and already has much influence with Cæsar. He is aiming at the highest position in the state, that of Commander of the Prætorian Guard, but certainly, as long as Burrhus lives, he will not get it. However, he is rapacious and unscrupulous, and has for some time been high in Nero's favour. He has been the instigator

of some of the most atrocious acts that have occurred of late. He has an especial fancy for plundering the aged, the weak, and the unprotected; and, for all these reasons, his name is now one of the terrors of Rome.

"After Labeo went to Britain, Hegio was left to himself more than he had been before, and went more extensively into his private speculations, making use of his master's money for this purpose. When we first came here, he was carrying on these operations on a great scale, and had large sums out at interest. It was during the first period of our return that he became attached to Tigellinus. He thought he saw in him the rising favourite of the day, and so he paid his court to him.

"Since the disasters in Britain, new schemes have been started by him. He thinks that Labeo may not return again, and, in that case, the estate might be open to an unscrupulous man, backed by the power of Tigellinus."

"But how could they do such a thing?" asked Cineas. "The most unjust act is usually founded on some pretext; but

Labeo has never given any cause even for jealousy. powerful enough for this."

He is not

"Nothing can secure a man from the power of the Emperor. If Labeo were now here in Rome, and Hegio had secured the co-operation of Tigellinus, there would be nothing to prevent his success. The thing has often been done. Tigellinus obtains the careless assent of Nero. An officer from the court then waits on Labeo, and advises him to put an end to his life. He obeys, in order to save himself from a worse fate. He falls on his sword. His family are driven off to ruin and starvation. The informer divides the estate with Tigellinus, and exults in the misery of his victims. Such things are done every day."

A cold shudder ran through Cineas, as he thought of the possibility of this. There was indeed danger. The name of Tigellinus, he well knew, was surrounded with associations of horror, and few were safe from him.

"All this I know," said Isaac; "but I do not know what particular way of action Hegio has decided on. Perhaps he will defer it until he is certain of Labeo's death, and then he and his patron can seize it as guardians. This, I think, is his present intention. But I believe that if news came to-day that Suetonius was lost, and Labeo dead, the estate would be seized at once, and my dear mistress and her child driven away to

starve.

"On the other hand," said Isaac, "there is much to deter even Tigellinus from such a course. Burrhus is yet chief in rank, and high in power. After all, he is more than a match. for Tigellinus just yet. I know that he is your intimate friend, and he is also strongly attached to Labeo. Seneca, also, is another warm friend. His ancient family; the Sulpicii, of which he is the head; the high descent of your noble sister, his wife, who is known everywhere to inherit the blood of the Megacleids and Heracleids;—make his name conspicuous, and might prevent hasty action or extreme measures.

"Hegio went off this morning, no doubt to see Tigellinus. I don't think the present news from Britain will make any difference in their present action. They will wait.

"As to the money of the estate, Hegio has it all. He gives about one-half to the support of the family, and uses the rest to speculate. I have proofs, which I can show you. One of the slaves of the estate is his accountant. He is a Jew, and hates Hegio. I had little difficulty in inducing him to let me see the accounts, and I am even now engaged every day in examining them."

"How can you manage that?"

"This accountant brings them to me, whenever he knows that Hegio has gone to Rome. We then examine them. It will take two or three months to finish the work. I have discovered enormous frauds, and can show you the proofs at any time. Circumstances have very greatly favoured me, and Hegio knows so little about it, that he never dreams that I am anything more than a harmless librarian, all taken up with my books."

Cineas expressed in the strongest language his lively sense of the services of Isaac; urged him to go on with his investigations, and said that in the meantime he would consider what might be the best mode of dealing with so dangerous a villain. Then, full of thought, and with no little anxiety, he took his departure.

AWA

IV.

The Boy and his Nurse.

HEN Cineas joined his sister, he found her with the family in the Peristylium, a noble hall surrounded by pillars, with an opening in the roof.

Her

mother-in-law, Sulpicia, was there; her son, Marcus, was by her side, and the nurse was seated not far away. Cineas was again struck by her strange aspect, which evinced so much suffering and patient endurance.

As he entered, Sulpicia was trying to comfort Helena in her own way. She was an elderly lady, of what we might call the true Roman style: a grave and noble countenance, a dignifie‹ manner, and a mien which evinced considerable hauteur. She was one who could never forget that she belonged to the Sulpician gens.

"If you were a Roman, my daughter," she said, as kindly as she could, "you would show more firmness."

"But I am not a Roman," said Helena, somewhat querulously," and I cannot forget that Lucius is in danger."

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Danger!" rejoined Sulpicia, with contempt. "What danger?—from those savage Britons? And what, pray, can they do against a Roman army?"

"Have they not already done too much?" said Helena; and she clasped her boy still more closely to her, expressing by that act her secret thought, that he alone was now left to her.

"My son's wife," said Sulpicia, in accents of grave reproof,

"should learn to have more confidence in Roman soldiers. These Britons have gained some advantages by a sudden outbreak; but they have yet to meet Suetonius."

"London, Verulam, Camulodune!" sighed Helena; and, as she spoke, she burst into tears; for the horrible spectacle of barbaric vengeance on those well-known places rose plainly and vividly before her. She had known them well. She had lived for a time in each, and could realize to the fullest extent the horror of their fate.

"It was only because they took the garrisons by surprise," said Sulpicia, with some severity. "Of course, under such circumstances, even Roman soldiers may be overcome. But the strength of the Roman armies is with Suetonius; and, when he comes back, he will show them what vengeance is. The next news that we receive will be that he has returned and punished those wretched rebels as they deserve."

"The worst of it is," sighed Helena, "that those wretched rebels have some cause for their outbreak. The wrongs of Boadicea."

"I don't believe a word of it; it is all their lies. The Roman

has always been generous to an enemy. Of course, if this miserable woman wanted to get up a rebellion, she could easily invent excuses."

"Would they have been so ferocious and implacable if they had no cause?"

"Of course they would," said Sulpicia, in a tone that put denial aside. "Of course they would. It is the nature of the barbarian to rebel. And this shows the necessity of severe measures. You cannot have security among wretches like these without strong repression and eternal vigilance. When their armies are broken up again, they will receive a lesson, I hope, which they will not soon forget."

"Their armies are so large, and they are so fierce and so brave!" said Helena.

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