rent superstition of the people themselves, who would probably be
loth, before the sacred altars of the great Egyptian goddess, to believe
even the testimony of her priest against her power.

Apaecides then assented to this proposal with a readiness which
delighted Olinthus. They parted with the understanding that Olinthus
should confer with the more important of his Christian brethren on his
great enterprise, should receive their advice and the assurances of
their support on the eventful day. It so chanced that one of the
festivals of Isis was to be held on the second day after this
conference. The festival proffered a ready occasion for the design.
They appointed to meet once more on the next evening at the same spot;
and in that meeting were finally to be settled the order and details of
the disclosure for the following day.

It happened that the latter part of this conference had been held near
the sacellum, or small chapel, which I have described in the early part
of this work; and so soon as the forms of the Christian and the priest
had disappeared from the grove, a dark and ungainly figure emerged from
behind the chapel.

'I have tracked you with some effect, my brother flamen,' soliloquised
the eavesdropper; 'you, the priest of Isis, have not for mere idle
discussion conferred with this gloomy Christian. Alas! that I could not
hear all your precious plot: enough! I find, at least, that you
meditate revealing the sacred mysteries, and that to-morrow you meet
again at this place to plan the how and the when. May Osiris sharpen my
ears then, to detect the whole of your unheard-of audacity! When I have
learned more, I must confer at once with Arbaces. We will frustrate
you, my friends, deep as you think yourselves. At present, my breast is
a locked treasury of your secret.'

Thus muttering, Calenus, for it was he, wrapped his robe round him, and
strode thoughtfully homeward.

Chapter II

A CLASSIC HOST, COOK, AND KITCHEN. APAECIDES SEEKS IONE. THEIR
CONVERSATION.

IT was then the day for Diomed's banquet to the most select of his
friends. The graceful Glaucus, the beautiful Ione, the official Pansa,
the high-born Clodius, the immortal Fulvius, the exquisite Lepidus, the
epicurean Sallust, were not the only honourers of his festival. He
expected, also, an invalid senator from Rome (a man of considerable
repute and favor at court), and a great warrior from Herculaneum, who
had fought with Titus