ve me again?'

'Yes. But you must be quick! If he finds out that I am away, he may
fancy.... Ah, heaven! let him kill me, but never let him be jealous of
me! Go now! this moment! Take this as an earnest--the cestus which I
wore there. Horrid thing! I hate the sight of it! But I brought it with
me on purpose, or I would have thrown it into the canal. There; say it
is an earnest--only an earnest--of what I will give her!'

In ten minutes more Philammon was in Hypatia's hall. The household
seemed full of terror and disturbance; the hall was full of soldiers. At
last Hypatia's favourite maid passed, and knew him. Her mistress could
not speak with any one. Where was Theon, then? He, too, had shut himself
up. Never mind. Philammon must, would speak with him. And he pleaded
so passionately and so sweetly, that the soft-hearted damsel, unable to
resist so handsome a suppliant, undertook his errand, and led him up
to the library, where Theon, pale as death, was pacing to and fro,
apparently half beside himself with terror.

Philammon's breathless message fell at first upon unheeding ears.

'A new pupil, sir! Is this a time for pupils; when my house, my
daughter's life, is not safe? Wretch that I am! And have I led her into
the snare? I, with my vain ambition and covetousness! Oh, my child! my
child! my one treasure! Oh, the double curse which will light upon me,
if--'

'She asks for but one interview.'

'With my daughter, sir? Pelagia! Will you insult me? Do you suppose,
even if her own pity should so far tempt her to degrade herself, that I
could allow her so to contaminate her purity?'

'Your terror, sir, excuses your rudeness.'

'Rudeness, sir? the rudeness lies in your intruding on us at such a
moment!'

'Then this, perhaps, may, in your eyes at least, excuse me in my turn.'
And Philammon held out the cestus. 'You are a better judge of its value
than I. But I am commissioned to say, that it is only an earnest of what
she will give willingly and at once, even to the half of her wealth, for
the honour of becoming your daughter's pupil.' And he laid the jewelled
girdle on the table.

The old man halted in his walk. The emeralds and pearls shone like the
galaxy. He looked at them; and walked on again more slowly.... What
might be their value? What might it not be? At least, they would pay all
his debts.... And after hovering to and fro for another minute before
the bait, he turned to Philammon.

'If you would promi