a few minutes--there was that to see which made every one forget
the intruders. Vehicles and outriders, litters swung between mules, and a
long train of imperial footmen, in red tunics embroidered with gold,
huntsmen with leashes of noble dogs, baggage-wagons and loaded elephants,
came trooping down toward the Serapeum; while suddenly, from the Aspendia
into the Hermes Way, the Numidian horse rushed out, followed by a troop
of mounted lictors, who galloped up the street, shouting their orders in
loud tones to the imperial train, in a mixture of Latin and Greek, of
which Melissa understood only the words "Caesar!" and "Make way to the
right!"

The command was instantly obeyed. Vehicles, foot-passengers, and riders
alike crowded to the southern or left-hand side of the road, and the
many-headed throng, of which Andreas and Melissa formed a part, drew as
far back as possible under the colonnade; for on the edge of the footway
there was the risk of being trampled on by a horse or crushed by a wheel.
The back rows of the populace, who had collected under the arcades, were
severely squeezed by this fresh pressure from without, and their outcries
were loud of anger, alarm; or pain; while on the other side of the street
arose shouts of delight and triumph, or, when anything singular came into
view, loud laughter at the wit and irony of some jester. Added to these
there were the clatter of hoofs and the roll of wheels, the whinnying of
horses, the shouts of command, the rattle of drums, the blare of
trumpets, and the shrill pipe of flutes, without a moment's pause. It was
a wild and ear-splitting tumult; to Melissa, however, neither painful nor
pleasing, for the one idea, that she must speak with the great physician,
silenced every other. But suddenly there came up from the east, from the
rising of the sun, whose course Caesar had followed, such a tremendous
roar that she involuntarily clutched her companion's hand.

Every instant the storm of noise increased, rolling on with irresistible
vehemence, gathering force as it came on, receiving, as it were, fresh
tributaries on its way, and rapidly swelling from the distance to the
immediate vicinity, compelling every one, as with a magic power, to yield
to the superior will of numbers and join in the cry. Even Melissa
cheered. She, too, was as a drop in the tide, a leaf on the rippling face
of the rushing torrent; her heart beat as wildly and her voice rang as
clear as that of the