retaliation: he quickly sprung to his feet, and
aimed his cestus full on the broad breast of his antagonist. Tetraides
reeled--the populace shouted.

'You are unlucky to-day,' said Lepidus to Clodius: 'you have lost one
bet----you will lose another.'

'By the gods! my bronzes go to the auctioneer if that is the case. I
have no less than a hundred sestertia upon Tetraides. Ha, ha! see how
he rallies! That was a home stroke: he has cut open Lydon's shoulder. A
Tetraides!--a Tetraides!'

'But Lydon is not disheartened. By Pollux! how well he keeps his
temper. See how dexterously he avoids those hammer-like hands!--dodging
now here, now there--circling round and round. Ah, poor Lydon! he has
it again.'

'Three to one still on Tetraides! What say you, Lepidus?'

'Well, nine sestertia to three--be it so! What! again, Lydon? He
stops--he gasps for breath. By the gods, he is down. No--he is again
on his legs. Brave Lydon! Tetraides is encouraged--he laughs loud--he
rushes on him.'

'Fool--success blinds him--he should be cautious. Lydon's eye is like
the lynx's,' said Clodius, between his teeth.

'Ha, Clodius! saw you that? Your man totters! Another blow--he
falls--he falls!'

'Earth revives him, then. He is once more up; but the blood rolls down
his face.'

'By the thunderer! Lydon wins it. See how he presses on him! That blow
on the temple would have crushed an ox! it has crushed Tetraides. He
falls again--he cannot move--habet!--habet!'

'Habet!' repeated Pansa. 'Take them out and give them the armor and
swords.'

'Noble editor,' said the officers, 'we fear that Tetraides will not
recover in time; howbeit, we will try.'

'Do so.'

In a few minutes the officers, who had dragged off the stunned and
insensible gladiator, returned with rueful countenances. They feared
for his life; he was utterly incapacitated from re-entering the arena.

'In that case,' said Pansa, 'hold Lydon a subdititius; and the first
gladiator that is vanquished, let Lydon supply his place with the
victor.' The people shouted their applause at this sentence: then they
again sunk into deep silence. The trumpet sounded loudly. The four
combatants stood each against each in prepared and stern array.

'Dost thou recognize the Romans, my Clodius; are they among the
celebrated, or are they merely ordinary?'

'Eumolpus is a good second-rate swordsman, my Lepidus. Nepimus, the
lesser man, I have never seen before: but he i