e mob. "It is he? No--it is a
dead man!"

"It is the priest Calenus," said the praetor, gravely. "What hast thou to
say?"

"Arbaces of Egypt is the murderer of Apaecides, the priest of Isis; these
eyes saw him deal the blow. It is from the dungeon into which he plunged
me--it is from the darkness and horror of a death by famine--that the
gods have raised me to proclaim his crime! Release the Athenian--_he_ is
innocent!"

"It is for this, then, that the lion spared him, A miracle! a miracle!"
cried Pansa.

"A miracle! a miracle!" shouted the people; "remove the
Athenian--_Arbaces to the lion_."

And that shout echoed from hill to vale--from coast to sea--_Arbaces to
the lion_.

"Officers, remove the accused Glaucus--remove, but guard him yet," said
the praetor. "The gods lavish their wonders upon this day."

As the praetor gave the word of release, there was a cry of joy: a female
voice, a child's voice; and it was of joy! It rang through the heart of
the assembly with electric force; it was touching, it was holy, that
child's voice. And the populace echoed it back with sympathizing
congratulation.

"Silence!" said the grave praetor; "who is there?"

"The blind girl--Nydia," answered Sallust; "it is her hand that has
raised Calenus from the grave, and delivered Glaucus from the lion."

"Of this hereafter," said the praetor. "Calenus, priest of Isis, thou
accusest Arbaces of the murder of Apaecides?"

"I do!"

"Thou didst behold the deed?"

"Praetor--with these eyes--"

"Enough at present--the details must be reserved for more suiting time
and place. Arbaces of Egypt, thou hearest the charge against thee--thou
hast not yet spoken--what hast thou to say?"

The gaze of the crowd had been long riveted on Arbaces; but not until
the confusion which he had betrayed at the first charge of Sallust and
the entrance of Calenus had subsided. At the shout, "Arbaces to the
lion!" he had indeed trembled, and the dark bronze of his cheek had
taken a paler hue. But he had soon recovered his haughtiness and
self-control. Proudly he returned the angry glare of the countless eyes
around him; and replying now to the question of the praetor, he said, in
that accent so peculiarly tranquil and commanding which characterized
his tones:--

"Praetor, this charge is so mad that it scarcely deserves reply. My first
accuser is the noble Sallust--the most intimate friend of Glaucus! My
second is a priest: I revere his garb and c