midian would
dare disturb you. The cruel one is very tender of you all--_now_; but
wait till Rome shall fall, then you will know what his tenderness is
worth--when you are all busy grinding corn for Carthage--"

"By all the gods! speak lower--if you must say such words," whispered
the innkeeper, white with terror. "If one of my servants should betray
me! Like enough the gate is closed at all times. It is said that
Hannibal enters the town to-night."

"Hannibal in Capua to-night!" came a voice from the rheda--a woman's
voice, softly and delicately modulated, yet deep and rich in its tones.
At the same moment the curtains were drawn aside, and she looked out,
beckoning imperiously to the would-be host. "Come near, my good man, I
wish to speak with you more closely."

The innkeeper stood as one dazed, with open mouth and bulging eyes. He
had looked upon great and beautiful ladies before, for many such
travelled by the Appian Way, but the beauty and the nobility of this
face seemed to him more than mortal. With all the grace, all the
freshness, all the radiant charm of the girl Marcia, were now joined
the calm and deep-eyed crown of womanhood. The perfect lines that
could so perfectly respond to playful or tender emotions were still
unmarred, and yet sorrow that had left no other trace had endowed them
with new possibilities of devotion and high resolve.

"Come," repeated Marcia, and the little inn-keeper trotted up to the
rheda and stood watching her with an expression of canine wonder and
subservience in his big, dull eyes.

"Did I not hear you say that Hannibal was to be in Capua to-night?
Have these false Campanians indeed carried out the treachery rumoured
of them?"

The man had forgotten all his fears of a few moments since, nor did the
slur upon his race rouse aught of indignation. Held fast under the
spell of the dark eyes before him, he made haste to answer:--

"The rumour, madam, that a traveller left with me some hours since is
that Marius Blossius, praetor of Campania, has led all Capua out to
meet Hannibal, who is to feast to-night at the house of the Ninii
Celeres, Stenius and Pacuvius--"

"But how was this done?" she interrupted. "It was said at Rome that
some few evil spirits, like Vibius Virrius and Pacuvius Calavius, were
ill-disposed, but surely the senators of Capua are faithful?"

"I do not know as to that," said the fellow, with the stubborn dulness
of a peasant; "but I know it is