nd had related that he had been the witness
of a remarkable scene. A number of young fellows had surrounded a boy and
had unmercifully beaten him--he himself knew not wherefore. The little
one had defended himself bravely, but was at last overcome by numbers.
"Then suddenly," continued the soldier, "the door of a house near the
circus opened, and a young girl with long golden hair flew out, and drove
the boys to flight, and released the victim, her brother, from his
tormentors. She looked like a lioness," cried the narrator, "Sirona she
is called, and of all the pretty girls of Arelas, she is beyond a doubt
the prettiest." This opinion was confirmed on all sides, and Phoebicius,
who at that time had just been admitted to the grade of "lion" among the
worshippers of Mithras, and liked very well to hear himself called "the
lion," exclaimed, "I have long been seeking a lioness, and here it seems
to me that I have found one. Phoebicius and Sirona--the two names sound
very finely together."

On the following day he asked Sirona of her father for his wife, and as
he had to set out for Rome in a few days the wedding was promptly
celebrated. She had never before quitted Arelas, and knew not what she
was giving up, when she took leave of her father's house perhaps for
ever. In Rome Phoebicius and his young wife met again; there many admired
the beautiful woman, and made every effort to obtain her favor, but to
him she was only a lightly won, and therefore a lightly valued,
possession; nay, ere long no more than a burden, ornamental no doubt but
troublesome to guard. When presently his handsome wife attracted the
notice of the legate, he endeavored to gain profit and advancement
through her, but Sirona had rebuffed Quintillus with such insulting
disrespect, that his superior officer became the centurion's enemy, and
contrived to procure his removal to the oasis, which was tantamount to
banishment.

From that time he had regarded her too as his enemy, and firmly believed
that she designedly showed herself most friendly to those who seemed most
obnoxious to him, and among these he reckoned Polykarp.

Once more the knocker sounded on the senator's door; it opened, and
Petrus himself stood before the raging Gaul, a lamp in his hand.

CHAPTER XI.

The unfortunate Paulus sat on a stone bench in front of the senator's
door, and shivered; for, as dawn approached, the night-air grew cooler,
and he was accustomed to the warmth o