inute of this life or the first of the next. No--what now remains
to be decided is whether the old gods shall be victorious, whether we
shall continue to live free and happy under the rule of the Immortals, or
whether we shall bow under the dismal doctrine of the carpenter's
crucified son; we must fight for the highest hopes and aims of humanity."

"I know," interrupted Karnis, "you have already done battle valiantly for
great Serapis. They wanted to lay hands on his sanctuary but you and your
disciples put them to rout. The rest got off scot-free . . ."

"But they have taught me the value of my head," said Olympius laughing.
"Evagrius prices it at three talents. Why, you might buy a house with the
money and a modest man could live upon the interest. This worthy man
keeps me concealed here. We must talk over a few things, Porphyrius; and
you, Gorgo, do not forget the solemn festival of Isis. Now that Cynegius
is here it must be made as splendid as possible, and he must tell the
Emperor, who has sent him, what temper we Alexandrians are in. But where
is the dark maiden I saw yesterday?"

"In the garden," replied Gorgo.

"She is to sing at the foot of the bier!" cried Olympius. "That must not
be altered."

"If I can persuade her--she is a Christian," said Karnis doubtfully.

"She must," said the philosopher positively. "It will be a bad lookout
indeed for the logic and rhetoric of Alexandria if an old professor and
disputant cannot succeed in turning a young girl's resolutions upside
down. Leave that to me. I shall find time for a chat with you by and bye,
friend Karnis. How in the world does it happen that you, who so often
have helped us with your father's coin, have come down to be the chief of
a band of travelling musicians? You will have much to tell me, my good
friend; but even such important matters must give way to those that are
more pressing. One word with you, Porphyrius."

Agne had been all this time awaiting Herse's return in the colonnade that
ran along the garden-front of the house. She was glad to be alone, and it
was very comfortable to rest on the soft cushions under the gilt-coffered
ceiling of the arcade. At each end stood large shrubs covered with
bunches of violet-blue flowers and the spreading branches cast a pleasant
shade on the couch where she sat; the beautiful flowers, which were
strange to her, were delightfully fragrant, and from time to time she
helped herself to the refreshments which