'What! Arbaces! and at this hour!--Accept this cup.'

'Nay, gentle Sallust; it is on business, not pleasure, that I venture to
disturb thee. How doth thy charge?--they say in the town that he has
recovered sense.'

'Alas! and truly,' replied the good-natured but thoughtless Sallust,
wiping the tear from his eyes; 'but so shattered are his nerves and
frame that I scarcely recognize the brilliant and gay carouser I was
wont to know. Yet, strange to say, he cannot account for the cause of
the sudden frenzy that seized him--he retains but a dim consciousness of
what hath passed; and, despite thy witness, wise Egyptian, solemnly
upholds his innocence of the death of Apaecides.'

'Sallust,' said Arbaces, gravely, 'there is much in thy friend's case
that merits a peculiar indulgence; and could we learn from his lips the
confession and the cause of his crime, much might be yet hoped from the
mercy of the senate; for the senate, thou knowest, hath the power either
to mitigate or to sharpen the law. Therefore it is that I have
conferred with the highest authority of the city, and obtained his
permission to hold a private conference this night with the Athenian.
Tomorrow, thou knowest, the trial comes on.'

'Well,' said Sallust, 'thou wilt be worthy of thy Eastern name and fame
if thou canst learn aught from him; but thou mayst try. Poor
Glaucus!--and he had such an excellent appetite! He eats nothing now!'

The benevolent epicure was moved sensibly at this thought. He sighed,
and ordered his slaves to refill his cup.

'Night wanes,' said the Egyptian; 'suffer me to see thy ward now.'

Sallust nodded assent, and led the way to a small chamber, guarded
without by two dozing slaves. The door opened; at the request of
Arbaces, Sallust withdrew--the Egyptian was alone with Glaucus.

One of those tall and graceful candelabra common to that day, supporting
a single lamp, burned beside the narrow bed. Its rays fell palely over
the face of the Athenian, and Arbaces was moved to see how sensibly that
countenance had changed. The rich color was gone, the cheek was sunk,
the lips were convulsed and pallid; fierce had been the struggle between
reason and madness, life and death. The youth, the strength of Glaucus
had conquered; but the freshness of blood and soul--the life of
life--its glory and its zest, were gone for ever.

The Egyptian seated himself quietly beside the bed; Glaucus still lay
mute and unconscious of his