t; and he can
prove it!'

'Hear me--hear me, my son!' cried the old man, springing toward him.
Philammon, in his fury, mistook the gesture and thrust him fiercely
back.

'Your son!--your slave! Do not insult the name of son by applying it to
me. Yes, sir; your slave in body, but not in soul! Ay, seize me--drag
home the fugitive--scourge him--brand him--chain him in the mill, if you
can; but even for that the free heart has a remedy. If you will not let
me live as a philosopher, you shall see me die like one!'

'Seize the fellow, my brethren!' cried Peter, while Arsenius, utterly
unable to restrain either party, hid his face and wept.

'Wretches!' cried the boy; 'you shall never take me alive, while I have
teeth or nails left. Treat me as a brute beast, and I will defend myself
as such!'

'Out of the way there, rascals! Place for the Prefect! What are you
squabbling about here, you unmannerly monks?' shouted peremptory voices
from behind. The crowd parted, and disclosed the apparitors of Orestes,
who followed in his robes of office.

A sudden hope flashed before Philammon, and in an instant he had burst
through the mob, and was clinging to the Prefect's chariot.

'I am a free-born Athenian, whom these monks wish to kidnap back into
slavery! I claim your protection!'

'And you shall have it, right or wrong, my handsome fellow. By Heaven,
you are much too good-looking to be made a monk of! What do you mean,
you villains, by attempting to kidnap free men? Is it not enough for you
to lock up every mad girl whom you can dupe, but you must--'

'His master is here present, your Excellency, who will swear to the
purchase.'

'Or to anything else for the glory of God. Out of the way! And take
care, you tall scoundrel, that I do not get a handle against you. You
have been one of my marked men for many a month. Off!'

'His master demands the rights of the law as a Roman citizen,' said
Peter, pushing forward Arsenius.

'If he be a Roman citizen, let him come and make his claim at the
tribune to-morrow, in legal form. But I would have you remember, ancient
sir, that I shall require you to prove your citizenship before we
proceed to the question of purchase.'

'The law does not demand that,' quoth Peter.

'Knock that fellow down, apparitor!' Whereat Peter vanished, and an
ominous growl rose from the mob of monks.

'What am I to do, most noble sir?' said Philammon.

'Whatever you like, till the third hour to-morrow-