Without waiting a reply, Arbaces hastily withdrew; afraid, perhaps, to trust himself further to the passionate prayer of Ione, which racked him with jealousy, even while it touched him to compassion.  But compassion itself came too late.  Had Ione even pledged him her hand as his reward, he could not now—­his evidence given—­the populace excited—­have saved the Athenian.  Still made sanguine by his very energy of mind, he threw himself on the chances of the future, and believed he should yet triumph over the woman that had so entangled his passions.

As his attendants assisted to unrobe him for the night, the thought of Nydia flashed across him.  He felt it was necessary that Ione should never learn of her lover’s frenzy, lest it might excuse his imputed crime; and it was possible that her attendants might inform her that Nydia was under his roof, and she might desire to see her.  As this idea crossed him, he turned to one of his freedmen: 

‘Go, Callias,’ said he, ’forthwith to Sosia, and tell him, that on no pretence is he to suffer the blind slave Nydia out of her chamber.  But, stay—­first seek those in attendance upon my ward, and caution them not to inform her that the blind girl is under my roof Go—­quick!’

The freedman hastened to obey.  After having discharged his commission with respect to Ione’s attendants, he sought the worthy Sosia.  He found him not in the little cell which was apportioned for his cubiculum; he called his name aloud, and from Nydia’s chamber, close at hand, he heard the voice of Sosia reply: 

‘Oh, Callias, is it you that I hear?—­the gods be praised!’ Open the door, I pray you!’

Callias withdrew the bolt, and the rueful face of Sosia hastily protruded itself.

’What!—­in the chamber with that young girl, Sosia!  Proh pudor!  Are there not fruits ripe enough on the wall, but that thou must tamper with such green...’

‘Name not the little witch!’ interrupted Sosia, impatiently; ’she will be my ruin!’ And he forthwith imparted to Callias the history of the Air Demon, and the escape of the Thessalian.

’Hang thyself, then, unhappy Sosia!  I am just charged from Arbaces with a message to thee; on no account art thou to suffer her, even for a moment, from that chamber!’

‘Me miserum!’ exclaimed the slave.  ’What can I do!—­by this time she may have visited half Pompeii.  But tomorrow I will undertake to catch her in her old haunts.  Keep but my counsel, my dear Callias.’

’I will do all that friendship can, consistent with my own safety.  But are you sure she has left the house?—­she may be hiding here yet.’

’How is that possible?  She could easily have gained the garden; and the door, as I told thee, was open.’

’Nay, not so; for, at that very hour thou specifiest, Arbaces was in the garden with the priest Calenus.  I went there in search of some herbs for my master’s bath to-morrow.  I saw the table set out; but the gate I am sure was shut:  depend upon it, that Calenus entered by the garden, and naturally closed the door after him.’