d pained her; but she forgot
that it might cost these brave men, husbands and fathers, their life or
liberty. The vengeance she called on them to take might be balm to the
wounds of her own heart; but if Caesar in his wrath brought destruction
down on these, her innocent instruments, that balm would turn to burning
poison.

These words, whispered to her with entire conviction, had not been
without their effect. For some minutes Berenike had stared gloomily at
the ground; but then she had again approached the assembly, to repeat
the warning given her by the Christian, whom all respected, and by whom
some indeed had been persuaded to be baptized.

"Johannes is right," she ended. "This ill-used heart did wrong when it
sent up its cry of anguish before you. Rather will I be trodden under
foot by the enemy, as is the manner of the Christians, than bring
such misfortune on innocent men, who are so faithful to our house. Be
cautious, then. Give no overt expression to your feelings. Let each one
who feels too weak to control his wrath, avoid the Circus; and those who
go, keep still if they feel moved to act in my behalf. One thing only
you may do. Tell every one, far and wide, what I had purposed. What
others may do, they themselves must answer for."

The Christian had strongly disapproved of this last clause; but Berenike
had paid no heed, and had left the court-yard, followed by Alexander.

The shouts of the indignant multitude had rung in their ears, and, in
spite of her warning, they had sounded like a terrible threat. Johannes,
to be sure, had remained, to move them to moderation by further
remonstrances.

"What were the mad creatures plotting?" Euryale anxiously broke in;
and he hastily went on "They call Caesar by no name but Tarautas; every
mouth is full of gibes and rage at the new and monstrous taxes, the
billeting of the troops, and the intolerable insolence of the soldiery,
which Caracalla wickedly encourages. His contemptuous indifference has
deeply offended the heads of the town. And then his suit to my sister!
Young and old are wagging their tongues over it."

"It would be more like them to triumph in it," said the matron,
interrupting him. "An Alexandrian in the purple, on the throne of the
Caesars!"

"I too had hoped that," cried Alexander, "and it seemed so likely. But
who can understand the populace? Every woman in the place, I should have
thought, would hold her head higher, at the thought that an Al