Cyril heard Philammon’s story and Hypatia’s message with a quiet smile, and then dismissed the youth to an afternoon of labour in the city, commanding him to come for his order in the evening.

But in the evening, Peter, already jealous of Cyril’s interest in Philammon, and enraged at any toleration being extended to Hypatia, refused to let the youth enter the archbishop’s house, and then struck him full in the face.  The blow was intolerable, and in an instant Peter’s long legs were sprawling on the pavement, while he bellowed like a bull to all the monks that stood by, “Seize him!  The traitor!  The heretic!  He holds communion with heathens!  And he was in Hypatia’s lecture-room this morning!”

A rush took place at the youth, but Philammon’s blood was up.  The ring of monks were baying at him like hounds round a bear, and, against such odds, the struggle would be desperate.  He turned and forced his way to the gate, amid a yell of derision which brought every drop of blood in his body into his cheeks.

“Let me leave this court in safety!  God knows whether I am a heretic; and the archbishop shall know of your iniquity.  I will not cross this threshold again until Cyril himself sends for me to shame you!”

He strode on in his wrath some hundred yards or more before he asked himself where he was going.  Gradually one fixed idea began to glimmer through the storm—­to see Hypatia and convert her.  He had Cyril’s leave.  It must be right.  That would justify him—­to bring back, in the fetters of the Gospel, the Queen of Heathendom.  Yes, there was that left to live for.

III.—­Pandemonium

Philammon did not convert Hypatia, but he became her favourite pupil.  And Hypatia, dreaming that the worship of the old gods might be restored, and her philosophy triumph over Christianity, received daily visits from Orestes, the governor, and entered into his plans—­to her undoing.

For Orestes had an idea of becoming emperor, and of purchasing the favour of the populace by a show of gladiators.  To win Hypatia for himself, he promised to restore the heathen games, and Hypatia, caring nothing for Orestes, but always longing for the revival of the old religion, promised, against her better judgment, to bear him company on the day of the festival, and to sit by his side, and even to acclaim him emperor.

The success of Orestes’ plot depended on the success of a bigger rebellion—­the attempt of Heraclian, Count of Africa, to conquer Rome.  Heraclian had been defeated, and this was known to Cyril, but Orestes was misled by false intelligence, and counted on Heraclian’s victory for his own triumph.

When the day of the spectacle arrived, to the horror and surprise of Philammon, Hypatia herself sat by the side of the Roman prefect, while, on the stage before them, a number of Libyan prisoners fought fiercely for their lives, only to be butchered in the end by the professional gladiators.