k. And this was but a frail straw to trust.

They took him along a side passage behind the storerooms, down damp and
slippery steps to the depths of the cellars. Here were the dungeons,
half of masonry, half of living rock, whose walls glistened with slime
where the torchlight fell upon them. They thrust him into the smallest
of the cells, and left him.

The light of their torch was shut out with the slamming of the iron
door; and darkness, dense and tangible, fell upon him in a reeking pall.

Nicanor spoke aloud, with a laugh that jarred on the heavy stillness.

"When friend Hito gains wind enough after his gambollings to remember
that lean lady of his, she should be far enough away to snap her fingers
at him. So, the rat is trapped at last. Now to see whether he can fight
or no; for if he cannot, he'll have no chance to try again."

Then silence fell; and other rats, boldened by the darkness, began to
come forth to peer at the intruder in their midst.

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THE LORD'S DAUGHTER AND THE ONE WHO WENT IN CHAINS

BOOK IV

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Book IV

THE LORD'S DAUGHTER AND THE ONE WHO WENT IN CHAINS

I

Marius rejoined Eudemius in his library.

"I have given command to have the slave Nicanor sent to the cells," he
said. "It was he, as I have just found, of whom the Lady Varia spoke in
the early evening. When we left the torture chamber, it is now two hours
ago, I saw him in the passage outside, with another, a woman, I think.
He put out the lamp in the passage, but I saw him first. It is as well
to catch our bird before he flies, as without doubt he will now try to
do, finding himself discovered, and keep him safely nested until we want
him. He is a surly brute, but I know a way to get what we want out of
him."

"And that is?" said Eudemius.

"Salt food and no water," said Marius curtly. "I have tried it before,
in camp. We will let him recover from this so-called madness, first. But
you said you would speak with me. I am at your command."

Eudemius shook his head.

"Not to-night," he said. "I am over tired, and it grows late. To-morrow,
perhaps. Did the Africans tell me that the old man Marcus is dead?"

"They did," Marius answered, somewhat surprised at the question.
"Undoubtedly he was mad, for never did I see such actions in a sane
man."

"And you believe that the go