d half way
up that to the upper; but, when my head was about on a level with the
pavement of the walk along the upper terrace, I checked myself and moved a
hairs-breadth at a time; for the rescue on which I had come was a delicate
task and any quick movement might precipitate the leopard's killing-
spring.

Through the spaces between the yellow Numidian marble balusters I saw what
I had anticipated. Partly under the big middle awning, but mostly out in
front of it on the walk, were set a score of light chairs. On those
furthest out were seated nine ladies: Nemestronia, Vedia, Urgulania,
Entedia, Aemilia Prisca, Magnonia, Claudia Ardeana, Semnia, Papiria and
Cossonia. They were rigid in their chairs, white with terror and yet
afraid to move a muscle. Belly flat on the walk, about twelve paces from
them, crouched the leopard, moving forward a paw at a time. As I gained a
view of her she emitted a third squall.

I saw that I was in time and felt so relieved that I almost fainted in the
revulsion from my agony of anxiety. As I began to move my mind was free
enough to wonder how Vedia had found time to change from her slave-girl
disguise into a bewitching fashionable toilet. Among those leaders of
Roman society, the very pick of Rome's noblewomen, she showed her best and
outshone them all.

I moved evenly and steadily up the steps and along the balustrade till I
was past the crouching leopard and then on round till I was in her line of
sight and half between her and her victims.

She recognized me at once, the evil switching of her tail ceased, she half
rose; she began to purr, a purr that sounded to me as loud as the roar of
a water-fall in a gorge; she took a few steps towards me, then, suddenly,
she made a peculiar movement hard to describe, something like the
curvetting of a mettlesome colt, but characteristic of a leopard and
therefore like the movement of no other animal save a leopard or lion or
tiger; she leapt daintily clear of the pavement and struck sideways with
her forepaws. The antic perfectly expressed playful delight and
friendliness.

I recognized her mood and knew that I had not only distracted her from her
bloodthirst but had her entire attention. I knew what I must do, but I
raged at the ridiculous exhibition which I must make of myself before the
most fastidious and conventional of Rome's noblewomen. Yet, if I was to
save them, I must not hesitate. I threw myself flat on my side on the
pavement and