‘Glaucus!’ cried the bystanders, with one accord; ‘is it even credible?’

‘I would sooner,’ whispered one man to his neighbor, ’believe it to be the Egyptian himself.’

Here a centurion thrust himself into the gathering crowd, with an air of authority.

‘How! blood spilt! who the murderer?’

The bystanders pointed to Glaucus.

’He!—­by Mars, he has rather the air of being the victim!

‘Who accuses him?’

‘I,’ said Arbaces, drawing himself up haughtily; and the jewels which adorned his dress flashing in the eyes of the soldier, instantly convinced that worthy warrior of the witness’s respectability.

‘Pardon me—­your name?’ said he.

’Arbaces; it is well known methinks in Pompeii.  Passing through the grove, I beheld before me the Greek and the priest in earnest conversation.  I was struck by the reeling motions of the first, his violent gestures, and the loudness of his voice; he seemed to me either drunk or mad.  Suddenly I saw him raise his stilus—­I darted forward—­too late to arrest the blow.  He had twice stabbed his victim, and was bending over him, when, in my horror and indignation, I struck the murderer to the ground.  He fell without a struggle, which makes me yet more suspect that he was not altogether in his senses when the crime was perpetrated; for, recently recovered from a severe illness, my blow was comparatively feeble, and the frame of Glaucus, as you see, is strong and youthful.’

‘His eyes are open now—­his lips move,’ said the soldier.  ’Speak, prisoner, what sayest thou to the charge?’

’The charge—­ha—­ha!  Why, it was merrily done; when the old hag set her serpent at me, and Hecate stood by laughing from ear to ear—­what could I do?  But I am ill—­I faint—­the serpent’s fiery tongue hath bitten me.  Bear me to bed, and send for your physician; old AEsculapius himself will attend me if you let him know that I am Greek.  Oh, mercy—­mercy!  I burn!—­marrow and brain, I burn!’

And, with a thrilling and fierce groan, the Athenian fell back in the arms of the bystanders.

‘He raves,’ said the officer, compassionately; ’and in his delirium he has struck the priest.  Hath any one present seen him to-day!’

‘I,’ said one of the spectators, ’beheld him in the morning.  He passed my shop and accosted me.  He seemed well and sane as the stoutest of us!’

‘And I saw him half an hour ago,’ said another, ’passing up the streets, muttering to himself with strange gestures, and just as the Egyptian has described.’

’A corroboration of the witness! it must be too true.  He must at all events to the praetor; a pity, so young and so rich!  But the crime is dreadful:  a priest of Isis, in his very robes, too, and at the base itself of our most ancient chapel!’

At these words the crowd were reminded more forcibly, than in their excitement and curiosity they had yet been, of the heinousness of the sacrilege.  They shuddered in pious horror.