s the son of one of the
imperial fiscales, and brought up in a proper school; doubtless they
will show sport, but I have no heart for the game; I cannot win back my
money--I am undone. Curses on that Lydon! who could have supposed he was
so dexterous or so lucky?'

'Well, Clodius, shall I take compassion on you, and accept your own
terms with these Romans?'

'An even ten sestertia on Eumolpus, then?'

'What! when Nepimus is untried? Nay, nay; that is to bad.'

'Well--ten to eight?'

'Agreed.'

While the contest in the amphitheatre had thus commenced, there was one
in the loftier benches for whom it had assumed, indeed, a poignant--a
stifling interest. The aged father of Lydon, despite his Christian
horror of the spectacle, in his agonized anxiety for his son, had not
been able to resist being the spectator of his fate. One amidst a fierce
crowd of strangers--the lowest rabble of the populace--the old man saw,
felt nothing, but the form--the presence of his brave son! Not a sound
had escaped his lips when twice he had seen him fall to the earth--only
he had turned paler, and his limbs trembled. But he had uttered one low
cry when he saw him victorious; unconscious, alas! of the more fearful
battle to which that victory was but a prelude.

'My gallant boy!' said he, and wiped his eyes.

'Is he thy son said a brawny fellow to the right of the Nazarene; 'he
has fought well: let us see how he does by-and-by. Hark! he is to fight
the first victor. Now, old boy, pray the gods that that victor be
neither of the Romans! nor, next to them, the giant Niger.'

The old man sat down again and covered his face. The fray for the
moment was indifferent to him--Lydon was not one of the combatants.
Yet--yet--the thought flashed across him--the fray was indeed of deadly
interest--the first who fell was to make way for Lydon! He started, and
bent down, with straining eyes and clasped hands, to view the encounter.

The first interest was attracted towards the combat of Niger with
Sporus; for this species of contest, from the fatal result which usually
attended it, and from the great science it required in either
antagonist, was always peculiarly inviting to the spectators.

They stood at a considerable distance from each other. The singular
helmet which Sporus wore (the vizor of which was down) concealed his
face; but the features of Niger attracted a fearful and universal
interest from their compressed and vigilant fer