y of Cannae--had
he let us press on with the cavalry and followed, with such speed as
the gods could grant,--I am convinced that within five days he had
supped in the Capitol."

His tone changed, as he spoke, to one of fierce enthusiasm, and his
listener shuddered. Then, sinking his voice, he went on, as if
speaking to himself:--

"Even now--even now--before the winter closes in, there might be a
chance. Later, they will recover strength and courage, and we--we
shall become--Capuans."

Marcia hid her agitation behind the curtains of the rheda. She was
terrified by his vehemence and by the justice of his reasoning. Here
was the man whose whole influence would be pitted against the purpose
of her journey; and her woman's intuition told her that no argument or
allurement could turn his mind. It was with a feeling of relief that
the halting of the vehicle before the porch of a stately house checked
the unwise retort that trembled on her lips. Later, she could oppose
him better than if, yielding now to an impulse to controvert his views,
she had aroused suspicion.

III.

PACUVIUS CALAVIUS.

The house of Pacuvius Calavius was well situated, near the centre of
the town, accessible to the Forum, and upon a street of considerable
width. The porch of the ostium was supported by four columns
delicately fluted and painted, the lower half in dull crimson, the
upper in ochre. A porter, in costume much richer than those worn by
most free Romans, lounged on a stool set upon the mosaic pavement, and
roused himself lazily to shuffle down and inquire why the rheda had
halted before his door.

"Ah! It was a lady"--and he smirked with insolent meaning--"who
desired to see his master?" He threw out his hands with a deprecatory
gesture. "The gods were, in truth, very friendly to Pacuvius Calavius;
but then he was very old--a complaint which few could guard against.
Oh!--"

Mago had signalled to one of his horsemen, and the soldier's lash
whistled and wound itself about the slave's neck. All the fellow's
laziness and insolence vanished, and he fell upon the pavement,
writhing and whimpering.

"Lash the hound till he does his office," said Mago, quietly; and the
short hand-thong rose again.

But before it descended a second time, the porter had rolled and
scrambled to his feet, and was rushing to open the door. He vanished
with wonderful speed, and, a moment later, there appeared a man
somewhat above middle ag