Calenus shivered as he looked around and breathed the damp, unwholesome air.

‘Yet,’ said Arbaces, with a smile, perceiving his shudder, ’it is these rude abodes that furnish the luxuries of the halls above.  They are like the laborers of the world—­we despise their ruggedness, yet they feed the very pride that disdains them.’

’And whither goes yon dim gallery to the left asked Calenus; ’in this depth of gloom it seems without limit, as if winding into Hades.’

‘On the contrary, it does but conduct to the upper rooms,’ answered Arbaces, carelessly:  ‘it is to the right that we steer to our bourn.’

The hall, like many in the more habitable regions of Pompeii, branched off at the extremity into two wings or passages; the length of which, not really great, was to the eye considerably exaggerated by the sudden gloom against which the lamp so faintly struggled.  To the right of these alae, the two comrades now directed their steps.

’The gay Glaucus will be lodged to-morrow in apartments not much drier, and far less spacious than this,’ said Calenus, as they passed by the very spot where, completely wrapped in the shadow of the broad, projecting buttress, cowered the Thessalian.

’Ay, but then he will have dry room, and ample enough, in the arena on the following day.  And to think,’ continued Arbaces, slowly, and very deliberately—­’to think that a word of thine could save him, and consign Arbaces to his doom!’

‘That word shall never be spoken,’ said Calenus.

‘Right, my Calenus! it never shall,’ returned Arbaces, familiarly leaning his arm on the priest’s shoulder:  ’and now, halt—­we are at the door.’

The light trembled against a small door deep set in the wall, and guarded strongly by many plates and bindings of iron, that intersected the rough and dark wood.  From his girdle Arbaces now drew a small ring, holding three or four short but strong keys.  Oh, how beat the griping heart of Calenus, as he heard the rusty wards growl, as if resenting the admission to the treasures they guarded!

‘Enter, my friend,’ said Arbaces, ’while I hold the lamp on high, that thou mayst glut thine eyes on the yellow heaps.’

The impatient Calenus did not wait to be twice invited; he hastened towards the aperture.

Scarce had he crossed the threshold, when the strong hand of Arbaces plunged him forwards.

‘The word shall never be spoken!’ said the Egyptian, with a loud exultant laugh, and closed the door upon the priest.

Calenus had been precipitated down several steps, but not feeling at the moment the pain of his fall, he sprung up again to the door, and beating at it fiercely with his clenched fist, he cried aloud in what seemed more a beast’s howl than a human voice, so keen was his agony and despair:  ‘Oh, release me, release me, and I will ask no gold!’

The words but imperfectly penetrated the massive door, and Arbaces again laughed.  Then, stamping his foot violently, rejoined, perhaps to give vent to his long-stifled passions: