over him, when, in my horror and indignation, I struck
the murderer to the ground. He fell without a struggle, which makes me
yet more suspect that he was not altogether in his senses when the crime
was perpetrated; for, recently recovered from a severe illness, my blow
was comparatively feeble, and the frame of Glaucus, as you see, is
strong and youthful.'

'His eyes are open now--his lips move,' said the soldier. 'Speak,
prisoner, what sayest thou to the charge?'

'The charge--ha--ha! Why, it was merrily done; when the old hag set her
serpent at me, and Hecate stood by laughing from ear to ear--what could
I do? But I am ill--I faint--the serpent's fiery tongue hath bitten me.
Bear me to bed, and send for your physician; old AEsculapius himself
will attend me if you let him know that I am Greek. Oh, mercy--mercy!
I burn!--marrow and brain, I burn!'

And, with a thrilling and fierce groan, the Athenian fell back in the
arms of the bystanders.

'He raves,' said the officer, compassionately; 'and in his delirium he
has struck the priest. Hath any one present seen him to-day!'

'I,' said one of the spectators, 'beheld him in the morning. He passed
my shop and accosted me. He seemed well and sane as the stoutest of
us!'

'And I saw him half an hour ago,' said another, 'passing up the streets,
muttering to himself with strange gestures, and just as the Egyptian has
described.'

'A corroboration of the witness! it must be too true. He must at all
events to the praetor; a pity, so young and so rich! But the crime is
dreadful: a priest of Isis, in his very robes, too, and at the base
itself of our most ancient chapel!'

At these words the crowd were reminded more forcibly, than in their
excitement and curiosity they had yet been, of the heinousness of the
sacrilege. They shuddered in pious horror.

'No wonder the earth has quaked,' said one, 'when it held such a
monster!'

'Away with him to prison--away!' cried they all.

And one solitary voice was heard shrilly and joyously above the rest:
'The beasts will not want a gladiator now, Ho, ho, for the merry, merry
show!

It was the voice of the young woman whose conversation with Medon has
been repeated.

'True--true--it chances in season for the games!' cried several; and at
that thought all pity for the accused seemed vanished. His youth, his
beauty, but fitted him better for the purpose of the arena.

'Bring hither some planks--or if at hand, a l