rved for more suiting time
and place. Arbaces of Egypt, thou hearest the charge against thee--thou
hast not yet spoken--what hast thou to say.

The gaze of the crowd had been long riveted on Arbaces: but not until
the confusion which he had betrayed at the first charge of Sallust and
the entrance of Calenus had subsided. At the shout, 'Arbaces to the
lion!' he had indeed trembled, and the dark bronze of his cheek had
taken a paler hue. But he had soon recovered his haughtiness and
self-control. Proudly he returned the angry glare of the countless eyes
around him; and replying now to the question of the praetor, he said, in
that accent so peculiarly tranquil and commanding, which characterized
his tones:

'Praetor, this charge is so mad that it scarcely deserves reply. My
first accuser is the noble Sallust--the most intimate friend of Glaucus!
my second is a priest; I revere his garb and calling--but, people of
Pompeii! ye know somewhat of the character of Calenus--he is griping and
gold-thirsty to a proverb; the witness of such men is to be bought!
Praetor, I am innocent!'

'Sallust,' said the magistrate, 'where found you Calenus?'

'In the dungeons of Arbaces.'

'Egyptian,' said the praetor, frowning, 'thou didst, then, dare to
imprison a priest of the gods--and wherefore?'

'Hear me,' answered Arbaces, rising calmly, but with agitation visible
in his face. 'This man came to threaten that he would make against me
the charge he has now made, unless I would purchase his silence with
half my fortune: I remonstrated--in vain. Peace there--let not the
priest interrupt me! Noble praetor--and ye, O people! I was a stranger
in the land--I knew myself innocent of crime--but the witness of a
priest against me might yet destroy me. In my perplexity I decoyed him
to the cell whence he has been released, on pretence that it was the
coffer-house of my gold. I resolved to detain him there until the fate
of the true criminal was sealed, and his threats could avail no longer;
but I meant no worse. I may have erred--but who amongst ye will not
acknowledge the equity of self-preservation? Were I guilty, why was the
witness of this priest silent at the trial?--then I had not detained or
concealed him. Why did he not proclaim my guilt when I proclaimed that
of Glaucus? Praetor, this needs an answer. For the rest, I throw myself
on your laws. I demand their protection. Remove hence the accused and
the accuser. I will